Are You a Mindful Maverick?

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -- Albert Einstein

Do you consider yourself a free thinker? Do you like to speak the truth? Are you a leader and not a follower? Would you call yourself original?

If you answered yes to those questions, you're a maverick -- someone who is their own person, and doesn't play by anyone else's rules.

The term "maverick" comes from Samuel Maverick, a lawyer, politician and land baron who refused to brand his cattle.

Being of your own mind, and acting on it, lets you call the shots for how you want to live your life -- and if you can couple that type of thinking with mindfulness, there's no telling what you can do, or how far you can go.

Mindfulness is being fully aware of all things in the present moment. If you can go from moment to moment with total awareness, and be authentic to who you are, you'll live your life with clarity and purpose, and most importantly, truthfully.

Here are some ways to be a mindful maverick:

1. Think your own thoughts.
2. Speak the truth.
3. Don't follow others.
4. Stand up to dishonesty.
5. Lead with kindness and compassion.
6. Help others.
7. Fight for what you believe in.

By being a mindful maverick, you can lead with conscious awareness, and act on what you believe in, not just for yourself, but also for the betterment of others and the world.

And if you happen to be a cattle rancher like Samuel Maverick was, not only can you choose not to brand them, you can also set them free...