We feel happy and relaxed but also wide awake and alert. This may seem like a bold statement, but it’s what the practice and the science of mindfulness is all about.Ĭonsider this: When the events and actualities of our lives are “good”-we’re falling in love, on vacation, enjoying friendship, learning something new and exciting, feeling appreciated at work-we relish it. And the purpose of it is to train your mind to be more present.īeing present is one of the best ways to reduce suffering, in any form.
MINDFUL LIVING HOW TO
Where are your hands right now?Īll of these moments of simply noticing what’s there are the basic component of how to practice mindfulness. Is the air warm, cool, neutral? Is there a breeze 6+from an open door, airflow from a vent?Īre there any sounds that stand out? A car driving by, a door closing, the tapping of fingers on a keyboard, people talking, the steam from an espresso machine.Īnd what about you? Can you turn your attention inward to notice what’s going on inside your body? Do you feel at ease? Is your breathing slow and steady, rushed or shallow? Can you feel your heart beating? Do you feel tired, alert? Bring your awareness to those places where your body touches a surface, such as the backs of your thighs on your seat, your forearms resting on a table, your feet on the floor. Is there an overhead light, a lamp, or both? Perhaps there are other people in the room or your dog is sleeping nearby. What do you see? Furniture, assorted objects, painted walls maybe books, pictures, a window. Take a look around the room where you’re reading this. The best way to understand mindfulness is to experience it for yourself! All of these benefits of mindfulness help grow self-esteem and a grounding sense of befriending yourself. These mindfulness exercises can be used throughout your day to help you develop greater self-awareness.Īs an added benefit, through mindfulness practice, you learn to recognize your thought patterns without judging them, gain insight into your feelings and emotions, and gain an embodied sense of both your capacity and your boundaries. Mindfulness is also often paired with other activities, such as mindful eating, mindful walking, and mindful listening, to name a few. In this way, meditation strengthens your mindfulness “muscle.” Practicing meditation regularly bolsters your ability to direct your awareness-your attention-and keep it where you want. That’s because meditation, in any form, trains you to mindfully focus your attention on an “anchor,” such as your breath a “mantra,” or a word that you repeat silently to yourself an image that you hold in your mind a physical sensation or a sound. Sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably, or you might see them combined, as with mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness is a quality of mind that is strengthened through the practice of meditation and also can be used with many other practices.
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