Mindfulness Grows In the Garden

There are many ways to practice mindfulness, one which seems to be growing is gardening (pun intended).
Mindfulness refers to the mental state of being calmly and consciously aware of what is happening not just in our mind and body but in our surrounding area without judgment.
The practice of mindfulness stems from ancient Buddhist traditions and practices which purported that mindfulness can help to improve mental clarity, concentration, emotional flexibility, empathy, and tolerance whilst also reducing stress.


MINDFULNESS IN THE GARDEN
Being fully present and engaged in the garden allows the same relaxing effects to occur. If you are a regular gardener you may have experienced a time where you felt a level of pure peace and tranquility that is associated with being present in nature in the process of gardening.

At these mindful moments you really feel the dirt and the potential it has in the palm of your hands, you feel the renewing warmth of the sun and the crisp air fill your lungs as you work with a feeling like you’re seeing your garden, its beauty and potential for the first time. Being mentally present in the garden, losing yourself in the garden brings you close to absolute mindfulness bliss which to me, is absolutely addictive.

IN THE PURSUIT OF MINDFULNESS
Gardening and mindfulness are a perfect match but it requires some conscious effort. Here are some tips for pursuing mindfulness in the garden;

Ø Don’t set a deadline for gardening as you will always feel rushed and pressured to get things done before your time is up. This inhibits your ability to effectively shut off from the distractions around.

Ø Actively indulge all your senses when you garden. Mindfulness is at its very core the act of finding yourself and your surroundings. Feel the earth, smell the flowers, and listen to the birds and insects, think about nothing else other than where you are and what you are doing.
Have you experienced this level of mindfulness while gardening? Share your experience in the comment section below.

Comments

  1. Christeon RomainNovember 26, 2017 at 11:14 AM

    I loved this blog. Gardening is something I never thought I'd enjoy, till I did it and realized how "in my head" I was. It took me away from everything else and centered me around this new, winsome world.
    Takes me back to your other terrific post "21 Thought Provoking Gardening Quotes."
    Great reads.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rogue Gardening November 26, 2017 at 8:31 PM

    Thank you for your positive feedback and for sharing your experience. Yes, gardening really has the ability to take you away from life. <3

    ReplyDelete
  3. AllieDecember 7, 2017 at 5:03 PM

    I love this post. I've really been searching for things I can do to help with training my mind to be more present in the moment. Never thought of gardening, but you've made me think about it now, so thanks.

    ReplyDelete

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