Be Mindful: Live in the Now

January 03, 2018

Mindfulness is important and, in some ways, very difficult to achieve. Particularly in the society we live in, being mindful means escaping a vast world that can follow us to even our pockets. To be mindful is to be aware of what’s happening around you, to interpret what your senses are communicating to you, and to do so without judgement. Being mindful is about living in the moment - setting down the extraneous and willfully opening your mind to experience the now.

One of my favorite quotes of all time, one that aligns particularly well with the theme of this blog, comes from the movie Kung Fu Panda. I know what you’re thinking, “Absolutely not. There is no way he’s going to quote Kung Fu Panda.” I am. You’ll appreciate it though, I promise.

“Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that is why it is called the Present.”

I find myself thinking of this quote during busy or stressful days; or even when I’m drawing and writing. It exposes a difficult truth about our society, in that, many of us live such overloaded and trying lives that we’re too focused on yesterday and tomorrow to be living in the moment. As overplayed and hyperbolic as this may sound, we were all given a pretty incredible gift when we woke up this morning. Life is as infinite as the universe, but it’s also infinitely precious. We are given an opportunity to experience the vast possibilities of our very short lifetimes, and it’s important to remember that no matter how overwhelmed or anxiety-ridden you might have been all morning, you have a choice to make right now the best moment you’ve had all day.

However, being mindful and living in the moment is almost never as easy as I make it sound. In fact, the troubling difficulty of being mindful can sometimes have an adverse effect on your mood, leaving you more stressed or disappointed than before your attempt at mindful meditation. Try your best to not be discouraged by this, as we’ve mentioned in previous blogs, you are not alone. If you’re struggling with mindfulness, you can rest assured knowing that there are many, many, people struggling with the same thing - and there are plenty of tools to help make it easier on you.

A great place to start is with Aromatherapy. Not just because we’re an Essential Oils company, either! It really has everything to do with using your senses to your advantage. Remember when I mentioned that being mindful is about interpreting what your senses are communicating to you, without judgment? Here’s where aromatherapy really thrives. Using the relaxing and soothing scents of your favorite essential oils can be a wonderful way to practice mindfulness, as it forces you to appreciate even the tiniest of nuances in smells. As you pull each scent apart (figuratively speaking, obviously) you’ll notice the high notes and the low notes - does it smell sharp? Earthy? Fruity? Flowery? - and before you know it the anxiety about that deadline or exam is a distant thought, separated from you by compounding relaxation and calmness.

Although nearly all essential oils can have this effect in some way or another, there are a handful that are exceptional in this regard. That’s where this month’s Mix of the Month, Mindful, comes in. Through thoughtful consideration and a lot of testing, we’ve created a blend that is both relaxing (and tasty, too!) and inspires a sharpened train of thought. Using Frankincense, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, and Clary Sage, Mindful has the potential to help you keep a calm spirit while practicing mindfulness and living in the now. The sweet and flowery notes are inviting to the nose and will leave you feeling calm and refreshed - ready for whatever turns life has paved ahead of you. Give it a shot, you might find that mindfulness was just a Corked diffuser away!