Mindfulness
about
Being mindful is being aware of or bringing attention to this moment in time, deliberately and without judging the experience.
It is not the same as a relaxation, if you are listening to a relaxation recording you will probably lie down and usually fall asleep listening to it. When we practice mindfulness or meditate we sit or stand. We do not want to fall asleep; it defeats the objective of being in the moment if we fall asleep.
benefits
People who practice mindfulness can have increased experiences of calm and relaxation, higher levels of energy and enthusiasm for living, increased self-confidence and self-acceptance, they are less likely to experience stress, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, addiction or low immune function and they have more self-compassion and compassion for others.
ways to be mindful
1 minute breath meditation
Simply close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Start by clearing your mind and taking 3 delicious deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth, let your breathing return to its natural rhythm and just notice the rise and fall as you breath in and out. If your mind starts to wander, gently, without judgement, bring your focus back to your breath.
Focus is chi
Pick an object, something like a painting or a vase. Spend 5-10 minutes putting all of your focus on the object, think about things like where it came from, how it was made etc. If your mind starts to wander, gently bring your attention back to the object without judgement.
walk mindfully
This is a great practice if you are short on time as you can do it on your way to somewhere. Keep your mind clear whilst walking and really notice the sounds that come and go as you walk along, do not give the sounds names (e.g. thats a car) as it will activate the left (thinking) part of your brain. Just hear what you hear and pull your mind gently back to the sounds around you if starts to wander.
“we are all different and special, so we do not attempt to become like somebody else, but we connect more deeply with our true selves.”