Over the last 10 years meditation, mindfulness, and being truly present, are things I’ve been intently focused on getting better at. As the cliché goes, “Meditation is the hardest easy thing you can do.” There are many methods people use to get into a meditative state, some focus on their breath or it’s tempo (what I do), some use a repeated mantra, others prefer to use certain types of music as a background. However you do it, the benefits to your overall awareness in life and general state of mind cannot be overstated. Personally, it has helped me put a buffer between my subconscious and conscious reactions to any situation I find myself in. For example, say someone I’m in a conversation with says something that I disagree strongly with. Mindfulness allows me to recognize and feel my knee jerk reaction, both psychologically and physically, prior to responding. It gives me a few moments of contemplation of what was said, why they feel that way, and if what was said is what they actually meant. That allows me to then focus on my side of the equation. Why do I feel in an opposing way? Is their viewpoint better than mine? Do I need to ask more questions to clarify their view? All of this occurs internally during the course of the conversation, but being 100% present allows me to focus on the details and come up with a response that is relevant, appropriate, and reflects the specific conversation at hand.

I have long held the belief that the best gift you can give anyone is your time and your attention. In our current culture, most people seem to be living a large amount of their lives in the virtual world on the web and social media at the expense of real quality face to face interactions. Too often, I see people out in social settings paying more attention to their phone then the person sitting across from them. Being present around someone shows that you actually care about that relationship and are truly interested in what they have to say. What is the point of getting together, if you aren’t enjoying it more than whatever is going on with your phone?

Fortunately, I find myself in meditative states quite a bit, sometimes unexpectedly. Being alone in nature forces you to be present, or you might not hear a predator in the bushes, or notice the correct footing you need to safely navigate a route. Another, and more surprising activity I enjoy that is highly meditative, is target shooting. I try and get into the woods to target shoot at least once a week if the weather permits. A few years ago (funny enough, while looking for morels), I found a great secluded place that allows me to setup a clear and safe 100yd shot. It has quickly become one of the places I go to clear my mind and let go of the normal day to day stresses. Ever since I started target shooting a few years ago, I’ve kept a record of my sessions so I can see my progress. Wanting to consistently be better than I was previously forces me to concentrate with ever fiber of my being when I’m sighting in the crosshairs on a shot. My goal is the bullseye every single time. In order to do that, I have to focus on steady slow breathing, keeping the sight perfectly aligned on target, and slowly squeezing the trigger. If I’m thinking about anything other than those things, a missed shot is always the result. It’s a great real time reminder that I’m not 100% present in the experience at hand. Very much like traditional meditation, I always notice an overall sense of calmness after I’m done, and the rest of the day seems to just float by.

If you have the opportunity, get out there and try it for yourself! Like I was, you might be pleasantly surprised at the results.