So, last week we got to have a personal interview here with our head trader, Mukarram Mawjood, on how he found mindfulness and meditation and how it helped him in his personal life and business life, but what exactly do these routines entail? If you are new to meditation, you probably feel about it a lot like how Mukarram first felt about it, interested but lacking the understanding and discipline to try it. Where do you even start? Well today we are in luck, because Mukarram is going to walk us through his daily practice so you can be inspired by it and start your own practice! First things first though, if you are completely new to mindfulness, hop over to our great introduction to mindfulness (https://www.bullionite.com/blog/2020/4/9/introduction-to-mindfulness) before you continue with this article.
Another thing to remember too is that Mukarram's practice is something he has developed over years now, this is not how his practice looked when he first began, nor is it something you should expect your practice to look like at the beginning either. Start small, making small changes in your schedule. When you see the positive effects it will encourage you to dedicate more time and refine your practice. A great place to begin is like how Mukarram began, by being present in the cooking, eating and cleaning of your dinner. When emotions and feelings come up about the day, acknowledge them and take a moment to feel them and where they are in your body, then release them. If all goes well, by the time you are done preparing your meal, your mind should be fully present and you will be able to enjoy your food in the moment you are in. By being fully present for your meal you will not only help your mind relax, but you will also eat less and enjoy your food more. Most overeating comes from distracted eating which also makes you forget your meal no matter how delicious it was.
Ok, so without further build up, here is Mukarram's daily mindfulness routine. “For my day I don't so much have a set routine as I have three requirements of myself. I must do something for my soul, body and mind.” This is much easier said than done of course! Mukarram not only runs two companies but he also has 4 children between the ages of 4-12 and his relationship with his wife and friends needs attention as well. “There are days I can't even stand properly when I am done” he confides. So while it may feel really great to have a routine that is like ‘I will do this many minutes of this thing at this time of the day,’ we can allow ourselves flexibility. The goal of accomplishing something for these three aspects of himself allows him not only to change his routine as the mood hits but also allows him to navigate his day more freely.
For the Soul:
“I am a spiritual guy, so this part comes naturally for me.” Mukarram is very devout to his relationship with God so he starts each and every morning with his prayers. “When the day is just beginning I find that I can commune with God before life takes me away.” Not only does he pray for himself and his desires, but he also prays for his clients and friends as well. While Mukarram likes to pray and meditate on his prayers it doesn't mean you have to do it this way. Many of us have many different ways we communicate with our Divine. You can, for example, apply this concept through a gratitude journal or goal writing, a peaceful walk or caring for your plants are all ways to commune with God first thing in the morning in the early peace of the day. “I find that the more we are grateful the more we see our oneness with God. I find my gratefulness helps me.”
For the Mind:
“In the evening that is when I practice my meditation and mindfulness. It is when I find I need it most.” After a long day it is sometimes hard to unplug. To ease ourselves into our evening routines or even for bed it is nice to drain the bath of all the thoughts so to speak. Giving time for your mindfulness routines in the evening allows you to be more present with your loved ones and get a better sleep. Here there is really no substitute, mindfulness is where it is at to unload a worried and tired mind.
For the Body:
“This is the hardest one for me” Mukarram confesses. “I have started taking care of my body, working out and the like but for me this is the one I struggle with largely cause I am so tired at the end of the day and my mornings fill up quick.” We likely will all have one thing in this list that we struggle with and for him it is the exercise. But as much as this can be a struggle, we can also find many ways to do it. If something is worth doing, it is worth doing even poorly. Meaning even if you are too tired from the day to do your full routine, you can still do part of your routine. Maybe it is just 50 situps, but that is still something more than what you would have done had you chosen to do nothing.
The most important thing when it comes to trying to better ourselves, is to be forgiving to ourselves as well. As we can see with Mukarram's practice, it is less of a strict routine and more a desire to better oneself everyday. We are not perfect beings, nor can we hope to be such, but with clear flexible daily goals we can be sure to create the life we have always dreamed of. Reach out to us at info@bullionite.com with your comments and questions.