The best things in life are free, especially when it comes to mindful eating and living. . .

What exactly is mindfulness?  I love the way Tessa Watt describes it in her book, Mindfulness: A Practical Guide:  “Mindfulness is a way of being that helps you feel more aware, present, focused, and accepting of yourself. “

I do my best to be present in the moment, engage and listen even when I am alone.  Do you stop and pay attention to the moment at hand and listen to what you are thinking, feeling and saying to yourself? It’s not as easy as it sounds, but practicing this daily can actually bring you a lot of joy and peace, as well as become second nature.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money (or any at all!) to master mindfulness.   Take a peek at 6 mindful tools that you already live with every day — it’s just a matter of fine-tuning how and when you use them.

1. Your voice. 

How you talk to yourself and others is an important part of mindfulness.  Are you positive, uplifting and joyful in your own head? The inflections of your voice, emotions you convey and energy given by your words can profoundly impact your health and happiness.

2. Your attitude.

The view you take on the world works magic in your life.  “Attitude is a big thing that makes a big difference,” said Winston Churchill.   Be aware of your attitude and know that you have control over how you view your life.  Your attitude counts.  A positive attitude can change your whole life.

3. Your desire.

All around us are mindless distractions.  The sheer act of wanting to be a more mindful, present person in life is vital to success in this realm.  Follow your desire to be more assertive in making positive changes in your life.

4. Your emotional intelligence.

How in-tune are you with your emotions and those of others?  Emotional intelligence is popular these days and some say it’s more important than your IQ in predicting success.   By tapping into your own feelings and those of others, you can regulate your own emotions and respond appropriately to other people’s emotions, too.

5. Your time.

The most precious thing you have is your time.  By being mindful of your time, you can use it better.  When you think about it, you get more done when you schedule your time to do various activities, such as work time, exercise time, meditation time and leisure time.  Planning creates purpose (and better use of time!).

6. Your space. 

How you organize your space is important.  Less clutter = more productivity, less stress and more room for growth, personally and professionally!  Check out these 7 Tips to Organize Your Work Space.   Post inspirational quotes or a weekly ‘mindful mantra’   to bring you back to mindfulness and your goals in your office, bedroom and bathroom.  It does wonders for your mind to clear your space of clutter - including your kitchen.  Rid your home of “trigger” foods so that you can eat more mindfully and not get distracted by ‘junk’ foods.

I hope you tap into your free mindful tools today!  They are always available to you, day and night.