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Duffel Bag Spouse Travels

Travel + Wellness + Culture + Women Over 50

Dbs yoga studio in the Bali jungle

Mindfulness Habits: 9 Ways to Craft a More Tolerant Lifestyle

Posted on October 17, 2019November 16, 2025
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Everyone handles stress differently. Mindfulness helps relationships in a few different ways. I tend to lean on mindful meditation, exercise, and writing– here on my blog and in my journal. And it works for me. Mindfulness is the process of being completely present in every moment. And while meditation is a great way to practice mindfulness, virtually any activity you do can help you become more mindful. Here are nine ways to thrive by being mindful.

being mindful, Kruse Markit Minneapolis coffee
being mindful,Things You Learn in Bali PIN
At the crack of dawn in Bali, I awoke to the gentle sounds of nature stirring. Eager to embrace the morning’s tranquility, I headed to my destination—a yoga class in the lush beauty of a rice field surrounded by thick jungle. The air was crisp, carrying the earthy fragrance of dew-kissed grass and tropical blooms. Walking along a narrow path, the soft soil beneath my flip-flops provided a grounding sensation. The distant murmur of flowing water and the rhythmic symphony of bird songs overhead became the theme music for my daily walks. Vibrant colors of tropical flora painted the landscape with rich greens and vivid blossoms. A gentle breeze carried the essence of the jungle, while the occasional rustle of leaves added a melodic touch to the serene ambiance. This journey became a sensory exploration where sight, sound, touch, and fragrance converged, creating a harmonious prelude to the upcoming yoga session in this enchanting Balinese paradise.
Wine in hand
  1. How to thrive being mindful
  2. Set Intentions
  3. Do You
  4. Good Listener
  5. Positivity
  6. Be 5-old
  7. Embrace Obstacles
  8. Be Open-Minded
  9. Pay Attention to Body Language

9 Ways to Thrive & Be Mindful

How Mindfulness Can Help Your Relationships

Mindfulness is really about focus and awareness of only what’s right in front of you. So not thinking about a million other things in the present or perpetually trying to multitask is the opposite of being mindful. And like relationships, mindfulness takes work and needs to be practiced regularly. Being more mindful helps you increase your environmental awareness. Here are nine ways mindfulness encourages responsiveness, openness, and longevity in your relationships.

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1. Set Intentions for the Day

I like to journal. It doesn’t have to be more than a paragraph or two. In it, list your intentions towards the people. Jot down how you’d like to handle your daily interactions and what you learned from yourself and others.

2. Do You 

Avoid judgment. Do you and only you. I find that I am a happier person when I don’t assume or judge. Don’t put words or intentions in the mouth or heart of anyone else.

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A post shared by Stacey Peters | Lifestyle Blog (@duffelbagspouse)

3. Good Listening Skills

This is one of my pet peeves. How many times have you started a conversation with someone who appears to be waiting for you to pause so they can speak? Don’t be that person. Lean in and show you’re interested in what that person has to say. Don’t try to match word for word, anticipate what they are going to say or shut them down before they start.

4. Be Positive

Take a few deep breaths before you respond to situations that can be negative. Try to find the silver lining in adversity.  Imagine life sitting in a lukewarm bath. It’s okay for a little while. However, the experience would be so much better with a bit of hot or cold water from time to time.

5. Embrace 5-Year Old in You

I often say we learned everything we need to live a good life in kindergarten. Kids don’t analyze every single word they utter. As a result, they interact with others based on instinct. We’re taught not to steal, lie, or put your hands on anyone. Therefore, we are encouraged to share our toys, say kind things, and treat people the way you want to be treated. Take a nap! That works as an adult too.

6. Seek Out Obstacles 

Challenges offer the most significant opportunity for growth. Unsurprisingly, anyone can thrive in an idyllic environment. However, our character is tested when things get tough, and we are out of our comfort zone. So set the stage and encourage your relations to play along.

7. Be Open-Minded

Ultimately, mindfulness is all about paying attention without labels, distractions, or preconceived notions. Consequently, you’ll observe the world around you, and yourself, with a more profound presence over time.

8. Pay Attention to Body Language

Yours and theirs. You should strive for openness and approachability when you interact with people. Experience how it feels when someone crosses their arms leans back or avoids eye contact.

9. Stay on Message

I used to try to be a good multi-tasker. But not anymore. I think you miss out on things when trying to do lots of things simultaneously. Ultimately, mindfulness meditation is the practice of staying in the moment. Mindfulness is especially helpful when dealing with stressful situations in a relationship. Please just avoid bringing old disagreements into new conversations.

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Improve Relationships by Practice Mindfulness

This post is sponsored and/or contains affiliate links, from which I earn a commission at no extra cost to the reader. I appreciate your support and know that all the views expressed are my own.

Salt Flats, Utah, Stacey, sunset, seated, group tour

 

I love sharing stories, lessons from abroad, and tips for curious travelers. If my work has inspired you or made you smile, please buy me a coffee. Your support helps me keep the blog running—at no cost to you.

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Comments (12)

  1. Kez says:
    May 16, 2020 at 12:05 am

    I like the be a child tip. Adulthood makes us cynical and jaded.

    Reply
  2. Peachy says:
    May 15, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    Great tips on mindfullnes! I like your tip about being a 5 year old. Sometimes we don’t have to think and act on instinct and gut feel.

    Reply
  3. Adrienne says:
    May 15, 2020 at 8:42 am

    Mindfulness is so helpful in many other aspects of life. I have no doubt it is helpful in relationships too. Thanks so much for sharing this!

    Reply
  4. Britt K says:
    May 15, 2020 at 6:42 am

    This is a great post. I love that you mentioned the benefits of tackling life’s challenges together. My husband and I have been married for over 7 years and we’ve definitely faced our share of challenges and struggles in that time. These challenges can tear your relationship apart or build it stronger depending on how you choose to view them.

    Reply
    1. duffelbagspouse says:
      May 15, 2020 at 7:03 am

      So true. When I told my mom I planned to marry a soldier. She told me that the quickest way to divorce went through separations– distance, not sharing, etc… You have to be willing to fight for your relationship and that means sometimes it might be uncomfortable.

      Reply
  5. Agnes says:
    May 15, 2020 at 5:43 am

    Thank you for this list. I enjoyed reading it and made a self-check along the way.

    Reply
    1. duffelbagspouse says:
      May 15, 2020 at 7:03 am

      Thank you, come back again soon.

      Reply
  6. Marlynn says:
    May 14, 2020 at 8:30 pm

    What a thoughtful, meaningful post. “What you plant is what will grow.” Love it. Such an important reminder, thank you!

    Reply
  7. duffelbagspouse says:
    May 13, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    test. test test test test test test

    Reply
  8. Cristina Petrini says:
    May 13, 2020 at 3:01 am

    Training and relaxing the mind is really the key to getting the most out of any type of relationship. You have to open them and use it more.

    Reply
    1. duffelbagspouse says:
      May 13, 2020 at 6:55 am

      So true— it makes it so much easier to handle the issues that will eventually arise.

      Reply
  9. Stacey Peters says:
    May 5, 2020 at 3:52 pm

    How to improve your relationship using mindfulness?
    mindfulness in relationships exercises
    how to improve mindfulness
    how to increase mindfulness
    how to use mindfulness
    mindfulness in relationships exercises
    mindfulness how to do it
    using mindfulness to reduce anxiety
    how to be more mindfulness

    Reply

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