Are you a fashion trend watcher? Do you spend a lot of time flipping through magazines and analyzing the wardrobe choices of others? Do you buy trendy items only to despise them--and yourself--later?

Trend-watching--and, more precisely, observing our trend-watching--gives us tremendous opportunities to create awareness of the traits we hope we have but are not sure we do. In fact, being frustrated, embarrassed, or depressed that we have succumbed to a trend is a perfect chance to discover what we value most.

It usually comes down to this: creativity and confidence. If we find ourselves buying that trendy little bag or those must-have shoes, that little voice inside us shouts Sell-out! and we start to feel that perhaps were not all wed hoped to be. After all, a truly creative person would buy--or even make--something unique, and a confident person wouldnt hesitate to go against the current trend and head in a completely different direction, or choose to buy nothing at all.

And thus begins a soak in the self-loathing tub, followed inevitably by an abandoned item at the bottom of the closet.

To avoid this, you must pay attention to it.

What trendy items are buried in your closet at this moment? Why did you buy them? Who were you with when you made the purchase? How were you feeling about the world in general and yourself in particular?

A little mindful shopping will help alleviate the Trendoid syndrome. And while youre at it, check in with yourself on that monologue going through your head when you see others sporting the latest fashion fetish. Youll learn a whole lot about YOURSELF if you listen carefully and--this is the hard part--non-judgmentally.

If you do melt at that crucial cash register moment, dont berate yourself. Simply take note of the way you feel now, and pay attention to how you feel later. Can you see that downward slide? Ah. Thats better. Things are getting clearer now.

Buying into a trend helps us feel connected when what we really long for is a sense of confidence. Take a look at how you can create greater confidence WITHOUT buying that blouse-of-the-moment, and find ways to tweak the latest trend in a way that makes you feel more creative.

Fashion can be fun and absolutely harmless, and you can use your mindful mall meanders to tap into your own sense of who you are--and what you REALLY need.

Now, thats what I call a perfect shopping day.

Maya Talisman Frost

Maya Talisman Frost calls herself "the Mind Masseuse"--just for fun. She has taught thousands of people how to pay attention.

Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she offers fun, creative and powerful eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. Trained in mediation and conflict resolution, Maya has a degree in psychology and Asian studies, certification in mind/body fitness, a passion for neuroscience, and a 30-year meditation practice.

Maya recognizes that meditation, though extremely beneficial, doesn't appeal to everyone, and she zeroes in on the concept that we can develop greater mindfulness in a number of creative ways. She focuses on multiple intelligences theory--the idea that we are smart in eight different areas--and offers all kinds of tips and techniques to make mindfulness FUN.

Yes, FUN. No need to get so darn serious, she says. We were truly mindful as children, and we don't have to try so hard or take ourselves so seriously. The secret? Recognizing that mindfulness is the very essence of fun, and learning how to create awareness using the very activities that captivate us naturally.

So, if you're not into sitting still, staying silent, or closing your eyes, don't worry. There are literally HUNDREDS of ways for you to develop greater awareness and pay attention to what matters most. All you need is a reminder to play with mindfulness.

Maya lives with her family in Mazatlan, Mexico, where she happily meets clients from around the world. She offers ebooks and ecourses guaranteed to help you become calm, clear and creative. She also trains clients through phone sessions and customized "playshops" held in various locations around the world.

Are YOU ready to play? Just click on the link below.