Copyright 2020 by MELISSA STEGINUS.
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For anyone who wants to live with greater awareness
and intention.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
What It Means To Be Mindful
Mindfulness is about paying attention with intention. Powerful things happen when you take a moment to fully observe your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and surroundings. You begin to recognize what it means to be aliveto think, to feel, to exist in an infinite universe filled with infinite possibilities. When you give your full attention to the world around you and the one within you, you gain a deep appreciation for your existence, and you learn how to access the profound insights and wisdom you hold. You expand your consciousness, or rather, you tap into the full consciousness that already lies within you.
To be mindful is to embody this consciousness, to live your life in accordance with the realization that youre alive. This process doesnt have to be revolutionary. In fact, as you cultivate the simple yet profound practice of paying attention, most days might feel quite ordinary. This is because the transformative power of mindfulness lies in practice. You can use your daily tasks and routines to immerse yourself in the present moment and appreciate the wonder of your existenceif you pay attention.
This book contains insights and exercises designed to help you cultivate mindfulness in all areas of your life. Slowly and with everyday practice, you will come to appreciate your existence, connect with your inner wisdom, and tap into your capacity for self-empowerment, fulfillment, and transformation.
As you work through this book, your practice will center on and strengthen two areas of focus: self-empowerment and personal fulfillment.
Empowerment :
Practicing mindfulness will lead you to the depths of self-awareness. Through observation, interaction, and regular reflection, you have the power to connect with yourself and the world around you. You will explore your worthiness, the beauty of your existence, and your unlimited capacity to create meaningful changes in your life.
Fulfillment:
With awareness and connection as your foundation, you will step into (or create, if you prefer) a fuller, more complete version of yourself. You will get to know yourself on a real, intimate level and tune in to the powerful wisdom and potential you hold deep inside of you. Through empowerment, you will learn about and believe in your capacity and inner resources; through fulfillment, you will use them.
You already have the inner resources you need to empower yourself, cultivate fulfillment, and transform your life, but you have to do the work to recognize and tap into these resources and your potential. Thats what this book and these next 108 days are all about.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 10 8
Youve probably heard that it takes 21 days to build a habit, so you may be wondering why on earth were looking at 108 days. After all, thats fifteen weeks or nearly four months!
First of all, this book is not about stacking a big, daunting habit onto your routine (like hitting the gym at 5 a.m. every day for three weeks). Mindfulness is a mindset and lifestyle shift that occurs through simple, regular practices (like tuning in to your breath or taking time to be creative). It takes time to shift into a mindful mindset, and giving yourself 108 days of practice instead of 21 will provide you with much more guidance, support, and confidence over the next four months and for the rest of your life.
But the meaning behind the number 108 extends far beyond its numerical value. So what makes it so special? To answer that question, lets zoom out for a moment and take a look at the cosmos:
- The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth.
- The diameter of the sun multiplied by 108 equals the miles between the sun and earth.
- The diameter of the moon multiplied by 108 equals the miles between moon and earth.
Therefore, its believed by some that there are 108 steps between ordinary human awareness and the divine truth at the center of our being.
In addition, if we consider the visual symbolism of the number 108, we see :
1 = higher power or ultimate truth
0 = wholeness of self or existence
8 = infinity
Not only does this number hold its weight in calculating our planets connection to the sunthe source of energy and life on Earthbut it also represents our complete and infinite existence in accordance with our truth. The number 108 holds incredible significance on both individual and cosmic levels; it represents completion, or the whole of existence, and that is exactly what I want for you throughout these 108 days and beyond. My hope is for you to become your fullest, truest self; to connect with the world and wonderful people around you; and to step into your life so you begin to actively create an existence that fulfills you.
HOW TO USE THIS BOO K
The beauty of this book is that it works with the things you probably do all the time. All you have to do is keep doing your thingbut with a little extra attention. So instead of 21 days of hustling to build a totally new habit, youve got 108 days to gradually train your brain to pay closer attention to activities and practices you may already be familiar with (i.e., deep breathing, journaling, self-reflection, goal-setting, etc.).
This slow and steady approach allows you to explore simple practices in small doses so you can find what works for you. Pay attention to what you enjoy or what strikes a chord with you so you can continue those practices past day 108. Be sure to dog-ear those pages and mark up this book as much as you want!
HOW IT WORKS:
Your next 108 days are divided into six sections. Each section represents a facet of you as a person.
- Physical: Listening to your body and reconnecting with yourself
- Emotional: Understanding your feelings and learning to trust them
- Rational: Observing your thought patterns to gain mental clarity
- Spiritual: Exploring your relationship with yourself and your truth
- Occupation: Managing your time and energy to pursue your priorities
- Network: Nourishing relationships that deepen your sense of belongin g
Within each section, there are 18 exercises that will help you explore that particular facet. Every practice contains an explanation about the purpose behind the practice, your exercise for the day, and a few reflection questions. Each morning, when you open your book to the corresponding day, youll read the days practice and learn about its benefits. Give yourself a moment to think about how and when youll do your practice, and schedule it into your day.
