How can we escape from our stress? The question may be more complicated than it sounds.

Say it has been a stressful day at work and it isn’t easy to unwind back at home. In this situation, we would be carrrying our stress with us. Unless the stressful situation is immediately present, and it often is not, the practice of mindfulness can go a long way toward being able to let go of the stress that burdens us with tension and distress.

So, the practice of being more present with the fact that there are no stressors at home allows for some release from the stress that exists back at work. Those stressors at work may be real and persistent, but at least they haven’t literarally followed us home . . . unless we have brought them home. Worries about some other time (future or past) or place (work or school) are primary targets for the practice of mindfulness.

The next time you arrive home from a stressful day, you might experiment with the phrase, “Just this moment, just this breath.” You can repeat this phrase in your mind until you find yourself more present with what you are truly experiencing in the moment. Ideally, home wouldn’t be any more stressful than work. But, in any case, at least attending to what’s present and happening at home would be more helpful than importing stress from elsewhere.

“I’m so excited to get my new…”

With so many people getting excited about gifts this time of year, it’s worth reflecting on the distinctions between gifts that offer experiences, such as going to a movie, and gifts in the form of possessions, such as new clothes. Of course, there are gifts that offer a blend between the two categories, such as a bicycle that enables the experiences of riding it.

A mindful approach to gift-giving appears to suggest tending toward a focus on the experiences that the recipient will be given, especially if the gifts are going beyond the basic needs of the recipient. Regardless, the experiences of both giving and recieving gifts are enhanced by savoring the anticipatory excitement rather than taking a “can’t wait” approach. At a deeper level, we can practice an appreciation for aspects of our lives that we may take for granted, such as this breath in this moment.

An article in the AJC newspaper provided the following tip:

An easy suggestion to practice mindfulness is STOP:
S = Stop and slow down;
T = Take a few slow deep breaths, noticing the sensations of your inhale with your chest and belly expanding and then the release as you exhale;
O = Observe thoughts, emotions and body sensations;
P = Proceed with awareness and curiosity.

As the American Thanksgiving holiday approaches (Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving earlier in the month since harvests generally take place sooner in Canada), it raises an opportunity practice an attitude of gratitude. There are plenty of problems in the world, but experiences of the world are incomplete if they consistently overlook areas worthy of gratitude.

In his book on Authentic Happiness, Dr. Martin Seligman suggests a gratitude exercise. First, identify someone who contributed to your well-being and then write a letter that details the benefits you’ve experienced, including your feelings. If possible, read the letter aloud to the person you’ve identified. Dr. Seligman describes this as an emotional process, making this another opportunity to be fully present in life.

The practice of mindfulness can help us to avoid some common pitfalls. With insight into some of the psychological biases that can get us into trouble, we can become aware of the biases as they arise when we practice observing what’s unfolding now.

As discussed in this video as it relates to financial decisions, confirmation bias puts us in the position of seeking information that supports our decisions and overlooking reasons to change our approach. The confirmation bias can affect not only major decisions about how to use one’s money, but also can weave its way into any major decision we make.

Simply becoming aware of confirmation bias in action can help to improve the wisdom with which we approach life. It’s especially helpful to catch it early.