The Mindful Nepali

Mindlessness is an art that comes naturally to majority. As opposed to mindfulness which means being aware of the present moment without preference and judgment, mindlessness refers to going about life in an auto-pilot mode, without becoming conscious of the here and now. That means, becoming oblivious toward what is- the context we are in, people around us, and our own sense of reality.

Like with any form of art, we can get better through constant practice. You can master the art of living mindlessly by:

• Giving in to the urge of speaking ill of others when they aren’t around and later complaining about how you don’t get enough time during the day.
• Acting like an expert around people but backing-off when it comes to taking actual responsibility.
• Giving up the power to not answer an incoming phone call while you’re driving.
• Inducing anxiety into your life by juggling between the same three apps all day long.
• Letting your ego run the rule over your life.
• Constantly musing about what’s gone. Losing sleep over what’s to come.
• Believing materialism is the answer to life’s problems. Falling prey to the perpetual dissatisfaction loop.
• Going into the details in a conversation without consideration of the listener’s interests.
• Trusting you are your thoughts and acting upon them.
• Letting your urges get the better of you. Regretting it later and then start worrying about what has now become the past.
• Commenting about someone’s weight the first thing you see them.
• Comparing your weaknesses with someone else’s strengths.
• Thinking of your phone as your best friend, especially when someone is talking to you.
• Not knowing why you do what you do.
• Doing something just because it sounds cool or every other person seems to be doing it.
• Saying yes automatically and regretting it later.
• Assuming rather than making an effort to ask.
• Speaking more than is necessary.
• Acting like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire.
• Buying things you don’t need, with money you don’t have, to impress people you don’t like.
• Wanting to be somewhere else rather than in the here and now.
• Becoming convinced that gifts can make up for lost time with family and friends.
• Talking for 90% of the time in a conversation and walking out feeling a sense of pride at having known the other person better.
• Seeing the world from your phone and not through your eyes.
• ‘Liking’ your coffee date’s check-in on Facebook whilst still on that date.
• Ignoring death as if you are going to live forever.
• Focusing on the apparent ‘Likes’ on your food picture than on savoring the actual food itself.
• Frantically reading this essay with 5 other tabs wide open, waiting in the background.
• And the list goes on..

  But I know you are better than that.
  Related: Battling Through the Challenges of Living Mindfully
  
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