"The most spiritual thing we can do right now is to focus on what we have." -- Liz Schulman
I have to be honest. Many times I find myself so caught up in the future that I forget all that I already have with me.
Yesterday was one of those days where I drifted from a mindset of gratitude:
-- As the beautiful Hudson Valley sun shone on my face, I couldn't help but think about how much better it will be sitting on the beaches in Kauai with my wife next week.
-- I did my first press into handstand last night, but I barely acknowledged this physical feat. Instead, I immediately thought about how one day I'll be able to do what that Cirque Du Soleil guy on Instagram does in a one-hand handstand.
-- When I scrolled through the internet to complete some much overdue work, advertisements callously reminded me that I don't have enough and that I need that new gadget, a slimmer waistline, or a new job to get me to where I need to be in life to be truly happy.
And this happens over and over. Yesterday wasn't the first time.
I've learned that it takes a conscious effort to focus the attention inward. Happiness is not something "out there" as the media overtly suggests, but rather it's inside.
As my yoga teacher Liz Schulman reminded me the other day in yoga teacher training, sometimes the most spiritual path we can take is the journey within because it helps us see that we came into this life with everything we will ever need.
I'm reminded that each morning we are born again and this reset button propels me forward. What I do today is what matters. Not what I did yesterday or will do tomorrow.
When I look at the sun today, I will be grateful that I can see the sun and feel its warmth when so many in the world will never get that experience.
When I scroll through the internet and an advertisement pops up, I will think of the many people in the world living on just one dollar a day. I will be grateful for the gadgets and clothing that I already have.
When I press into a handstand, I will thank myself for the many hours it took of dedicated practice to achieve this fluidity.
What helps me come back to a mindset of gratitude?
The breath.
When my mind begins to race, I know I need to come back to a deep and steady inhale and exhale. This pulls the mind back and allows the muddy water to settle.
Science teaches us that this type of breath -- called Ujjayi or ocean breath in yoga -- activates the parasympathetic nervous system which tells our fight-or-flight mechanisms to chill. When calm, we can then more easily acknowledge the present and live with gratitude.
As our world continues to grow more connected and even more information comes our way, it will undoubtedly be more difficult to live in the present.
Such is the evolution of society. But that's where the act of choosing where to place our attention will come in. That's where the art of gratitude will evolve the mind to further realize it's unlimited potential.
That's when we will one day fully realize that all that we need in life came with our first breath.
(Check out Mark's guided meditations here. You can join his personal Sunday newsletter by clicking here.)