My Rule of Life
Rule #1: Be Mindful
Mindfulness is about intention, but not intention directed towards time (the past or the future) but an intention to recognize the various inter-beings that exist around you. Mindfulness is an essential, elemental part of all of my disciplines. Without mindfulness, the motions of spiritual discipline are meaningless.
Rule #2: Remember to be Mindful
Our minds seem to always want to “forward-think.” We walk with the destination in our mind and forget to be in the present moment. We prepare our next bite of food while chewing our previous bite, forgetting to taste deeply. I use bells as a way of remembering to be mindful. When I hear the clock chime, or the telephone ring, or the crosswalk signal I am reminded to be present and to be grateful for the present moment.
Rule #3: Practice Mindfulness
To practice is to deepen your sensitivities to all that is around you. Practicing mindfulness can happen while walking, sitting, doing the dishes or other chores. I clean peoples homes and use this time to practice mindfulness. Gardening is always an important way for me to practice.
Rule #4: Engage Mindfully
When engaging other people, or nature, I will practice mindfulness. I will try not to formulate my thoughts while a person is speaking and be present with him or her completely. If a comment requires more thought than I am willing to share at the moment I will try not speak until what I say comes from a place of mindfulness.
Rule #5: Live Mindfully
To live mindfully is to prioritize in a way that I allow the fullness of life to permeate my being. Responsibility is not always about what tasks need to be done, but in the interactions along the way to your goal. I will try to be mindful of my friends, family and church and their needs.
Michael Mallory 2007