Mindfulness Meditation (For Everyday Life)

keeps us honest and reminds us that there is far
more to life than getting things done.
Discipline provides a constancy which is independent
of what kind of a day you had yesterday and what
kind of a day you anticipate today. I especially try to
make time for formal practice, if just for a few
minutes, on days when momentous events happen,
happy or distressing, when my mind and the
circumstances are in turmoil, when there is lots to be
done and feelings are running strong. In this way, I
am less likely to miss the inner meaning of such
moments, and I might even navigate through them a
bit better.
By grounding yourself in mindfulness early in the
morning, you are reminding yourself that things are
always changing, that good and bad things come and
go, and that it is possible to embody a perspective of
constancy, wisdom, and inner peace as you face any
conditions that present themselves. Making the daily
choice to wake up early to practice is an embodiment
of this perspective. I sometimes speak of it as my
"routine," but it is far from routine. Mindfulness is the
very opposite of routine.
If you are reluctant to get up an hour earlier than you
ordinarily might, you can always try half an hour, or
fifteen minutes, or even five minutes. It's the spirit that