Why You Need To Incorporate Mindful Walking

Many men feel like they don’t know how to live authentically. A lot of pain and rage builds up inside as they try to strive for a way of being that society tells them is the right way. They carry around a bunch of emotional baggage from all of the expectations.

No one expects you to be perfect, so stop trying so damn hard. It’s not going to happen. You will never be able to escape feeling a deep sense of inadequacy from time to time no matter how “perfect” you are. Your happiness will always depend on something outside of yourself – whether it’s your partner, success or some other thing that you’re chasing after.

Mindful Walking is a great way to clear your mind and allow you to think without the interruption of phones, kids, work, spouses, and everyday distractions.  It is your time, and no one can interrupt you when you are in your “Mindfulness” zone.

Taking a walk is almost considered a meditative technique because it requires very little concentration and is something that can become very easily adapted to your life and living conditions.

Why Mindful Walking Is Important

I will not lie to you. Over the last few months, I’ve been feeling a bit off – having too much work or not enough activities outside of work didn’t help matters. Did it ever occur to you that your life might feel a little lacking because your brain is so obsessed with external situations and triggers?

I used to be a huge fan of mindless television, but I’ve realized that doing so made me less satisfied with my life because all those shows can do is keep assaulting me from an external force. Mindless exercise could also do the same thing as working out without thinking about anything else but putting one foot in front of the other as you walk or run. And then there are mindful walks – realizing that every step you take and every breath you take can be a moment to look at and experience your life and the world around you.

Being aware of the present gives us the ability to realize that we don’t need as much as we think we do to lead satisfying lives because what makes us content is not external, but rather internal. Let this realization help guide your future decisions.

What made me feel off in my life? How has mindless entertainment affected my life negatively? Is there a way I can change this mindset, or am I doomed to always be unsatisfied with my life? Can mindful walking really help with all this?

How Walking Can Be Mindful

While walking, you can allow yourself to drift away into a semi-conscious state where you are moving along but don’t have to think about it.  At the same time, your mind can be off thinking about other things that don’t require a great deal of concentration.

We get so busy with life that we forget how to live life.  In this day and age, we feel that everything has to be planned down to the smallest detail to get the most out of our day.  And, top that off with the “noise” of social media distractions, TV, and any other form of entertainment that has you captivated for great lengths of time.

If you already take walks, you can easily incorporate these techniques into your everyday steps.  Mindful walking can be done whether you are walking to or from work (inner city), walking for exercise purposes, or walking in a nature park.  The point is to get out and walk and direct your mind differently from what you have experienced before.

Why Men Need to Practice Mindful Walking

Mindful walking is important for men because it allows us to take a break from our daily lives. By taking walks, we’re able to make an attempt at slowing down and live in the moment. It also relieves stress by releasing endorphins which work as natural painkillers. The benefits of mindful walking are plentiful, but one of the most important reasons that should resonate with men is that it can give us this sense of awareness of our minds that’s often hard to come by other methods. You might find you’re able to find peace and create space in your day for other thoughts without feeling guilty or frazzled about doing so.

Mindful Walking Techniques and Strategies:

• Notice how your body feels.  Do you feel as if you are carrying around a considerable weight, and it feels heavy?  Do you feel as light as a feather?  Are you relaxed?  
• What is going on around you (Sight)?  Notice the scenery or the people around you.  Are you in the inner city?  What do you see in each of the display windows at the various stores?  Take notice of the use of colors and shapes on display.  Are people being silly?  Are there serious people?  Don’t overthink it.  Just observe all your surroundings.
• What do you hear (Hearing)?  What are the noises you hear?  Do you hear birds chirping?  Cars honking?  Running streams?  Don’t overthink the sounds, and just notice and be aware of the sounds.  
• How do you feel at this moment?  Do you feel as if you are walking awkwardly?  Do you feel as if your steps are heavy?  Don’t change the way you are walking and just notice it.  If you take the time to think too long on this, you might overthink it and become self-conscious.
• What do you smell on your walk?  If you are in the city, do you smell bakeries cooking their delicious cakes, cupcakes, and other goodies?  If you are in the country, do you smell fresh-cut grass, rain in the distance, flowers, or trees?  There might be unpleasant smells but try to concentrate on the pleasant aromas.  Do any of the scents bring back memories of something, someone, or somewhere in your past?
• What are you feeling as far as the essence of the outdoors?  Is there a gentle breeze?  Is the sun beaming down on your face?  Are you feeling each step you take or your arms swinging in the breeze?  Take in all of these familiar walking sensations’ sensations and don’t overthink them—just enjoy them.

Things to Keep In Mind While Mindfully Walking

Make sure when you are taking a mindful walk that you are aware of your surroundings.  Watch for traffic, cars, trains, and pay attention to signs.  You can become so melded into the space you are creating with your walk that you might forget to stay aware of it.

While you are walking, let all of the sensations and feelings come and go into your consciousness and awareness.  Don’t overthink any of it, and just simply notice the things coming and going in your thoughts.

What is your rhythm of walking?  Take notice of how your body is moving.  You can probably feel each side and how it feels as you walk along.  Don’t try to speed up or slow down but walk at a regular pace.  If you try to walk too fast and not your norm, you will not enjoy the mindfulness you are trying to accomplish with your walk.  Your body may be telling you to slow down.  If that is the case, let your body take over.

While walking, try to notice your feet touching the ground as you take step after step.  Each step can be your base for grounding yourself if you have let your mind wander too far off the beaten path.  This noticing elicits the same sensation as meditational breathing as far as the rising and falling sensation.

The Takeaway

Thanks to technology, our lives are more hectic than ever before. Almost everything we do is done with the help of technology. We get the news on our phone, we get Facebook updates on our phone, and we can even order pizza without picking up the phone. This makes it difficult to disconnect from the world and focus on what really matters. There’s no time for that!

Men, it’s time to stop kidding ourselves. We’re all attached to our cell phones, tablets, laptops and televisions (even though we know they drain our energy!) but that doesn’t mean that we can’t begin seeking an authentic life. It starts with small changes like not taking your phone to the bathroom with you, spending more time outside and away from screens, cooking real food instead of microwaving something, and turning off your devices at least an hour before bed.

I want you to start this week by putting your phone in your pocket or in your car when you go for a walk. No checking Twitter or Instagram when you are in the middle of a walk in nature, just enjoy it. This will give you some time to think about what is important to you without being distracted by friends asking for likes and comments.

I’m asking you to put your phone away because the only person responsible for your thoughts is you – nobody else. Don’t let others control what runs through your head; it is not healthy.

It is time for you to start taking your life back and focusing on what really matters. Take some time each day just for yourself. Start small, but never stop growing. Get out into nature, clear your mind, and allow yourself to think without distractions. What is important to you? What would make today great?

By using mindfulness while walking, your usual way of thinking might become more apparent, and your mental habits more clear.  Using mindfulness techniques, we can understand our reactions to the things going on around us. Instead of thinking of things as an annoyance on your walk, you might turn it into a positive feeling.

I challenge you to go on a Mindful Walk this week, put your phone away, and enjoy some time to yourself.

“Good questions outrank easy answers.” – Paul A. Samuelson (American economist)

• Try mindful walking for two weeks.
• Do you notice any changes in your energy level?
• Your overall mood?

Want more? Get the free guide “Quiet Confidence: A Men’s Guide to Living a Free, Authentic, Joyful, Centered, & Purposeful Life“

This workbook will introduce mindfulness as a foundation for living a more deliberate, authentic, purposeful life of peace, freedom, health, and fulfillment.