Be fully aware of every moment, especially when eating or talking with others, and focus on the experience instead of drifting into the past or future.

My 26-Day Silent Meditation Challenge: What I Learned

My 26-Day Silent Meditation Challenge

Living in the present! 26 days of my silent meditation. Nonverbal communication (I speak only if it's really needed)

What Silent Meditation Teaches You

Day 17: I am now understanding the power of thoughts, how it controls your happiness.

The benefits of silent meditation teach you Patience (this empowers you to deal with the feeling effectively instead of letting it rule you), Diligence (you'll reach a point where your mind will finally settle into a calm place of well-being and balance), and Mindfulness (the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.)

Being more silent teaches you to deepen your calm and enhance your clarity as well. You'll find that the calm state of mind comes and goes; just like any other experience. Perseverance will teach you how to appreciate the moments of calmness as well as the moments of mental activity.

The Power of Listening

Practicing being the last to speak. The skill to hold your opinions to yourself until everyone has spoken gives everybody else the feeling that they have been heard. It gives everyone else the ability to feel that they have contributed. You get the benefit of hearing what everybody else has to think before you render your opinion. (Practicing Sinek's advice)

Time, Presence & Living Fully

Time management. Yes, time is so valuable. You would never re-live the same day twice so enjoy it. Be more present. I hear this a lot — everyone is so busy (which is true) but ask yourself: are you making time for the right things? Things that would elevate who you are?

If we take 80% of our time doing what we love and what we were created to do and 20% for the other stuff, we will appreciate our life journey a little more.

It takes time to be creative, so make time for that.

You learn how to stop whining. No more asking why, how come — no more whining and criticizing.

Past, Present & Future: Where Happiness Lives

Being silent/mindfulness means staying present in the moment.

If you're living in the past, you are going to be depressed — re-hashing things that happened that won't happen again (you live and you learn).

If you are living in the future, you are going to be anxious, anticipating what is coming, wishing for things that didn't happen yet.

Being in the present moment is where you will have the greatest control. Stay in the present moment — where you have full control over what you want. You will feel at ease and where happiness flourishes.

There's a super tight connection between happiness and living in the present moment. Learn more — Martin Seligman studied happiness for decades.

How to Be Present

Fun fact: 40% of your happiness levels are preset by genetics — 60% you are in complete control of!

It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Control your thoughts and it will shift your feelings.

Be fully aware of every moment. When you're eating, savor it instead of drifting into the future or the past. Think about the food you're eating — how it smells, how it tastes. Think about the people sitting with you. Tell that person exactly how you feel.

The small simple acts of appreciation — that's how you expand happiness inside the present moment.

Stay in the present, make the right choices for you. Don't waste time, be consistent and get more sleep #lol

Oh, 2018 — you taught me a lot! For that I am grateful.