Being Mindful

A lot of people have this idea that meditation means sitting down and doing nothing, but that could not be further from the truth.

In fact, mindfulness is a state of active, open attention to the present moment that increases your level of awareness. This state is described as observing one’s thoughts and feelings, in an objective manner, without judging them as good or bad. Mindfulness, therefore, can be a tool to stop self-criticism, while identifying and managing difficult emotions.

Mindfulness is an active form of brain training.

Cultivating the habit to be mindful is a discipline that helps one to become more focused and efficient, as well as to be able to cope with difficult feelings such as anger, sadness, and fear. Furthermore, the practice of this  discipline has the power to deepen your connection with your loved ones, feel more rested, and curb unhealthy habits. Moreover, countless clinical studies show that being mindful provides relief from anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders.

Think about it,  if we are sitting here feeling all upset, if we’re overwhelmed with strong personal feelings and emotions, that, in itself, grabs our attention. At that moment it is really hard to be present, to focus, and to be fully attentive… mindfully available to the task at hand or for another human being.

But if we can moderate ourselves, so that, at least, our emotions are down at a non-distractive level, then we can connect mentally and emotionally, be present in a way we couldn’t otherwise.

So to live mindfully is to live in the present moment, rather than dwelling on the past or anticipating the future.

Further,  to practice mindfulness  one has to take into account two key components: awareness and acceptance.

“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little”. – Jon Kabat-Zinn

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE – 5 simple steps

1) BRING YOUR FULL ATTENTION TO YOUR BREATH, AND SEND IT TO YOUR ABDOMEN

2) ACTIVELY AIM TO OBSERVE THE MOVEMENT OF THE BREATH IN YOUR ABDOMEN, AND MENTALLY LABEL IT:  “RAISING” – “FALLING”

3) AS YOU FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH MOVING YOUR ABDOMEN, RECOGNIZE YOUR MIND BEING GRABBED BY THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, SENSATIONS, IMAGES, MEMORIES, PLANNING, ACHES, PAINS, CRAVINGS, FEARS

4) WHEN YOUR MIND WONDERS, LABEL THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND IMAGES THAT COME UP.

5) RE-DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE NEXT BREATH, AND CONTINUE LABELING MENTALLY THE MOVEMENT OF YOUR ABDOMENT: “RAISING” – “FALLING”

Because it is the simplest thing that we can do, and that  almost immediately makes us feel better… the more we do this, the easier it becomes, and the better we feel. This is something that we can do, for just a few minutes, literally, in the middle of the day.

Before a meeting, or an exam, just sit down, and take care of your own mind first. You’ll be more available, and sharp for two reasons: FIRST, your own personal issues will be minimized, and SECOND, you’ll be in a position to listen, understand, and respond more skillfully.

This is valuable time that you must invest on yourself  to reset your minds, and moderate your emotions to be fully PRESENT – to the work that you do, and the roles that you play in corners of your personal life- .

Start practicing today, for only 5 minutes, at any time of the day, – gradually you can increment the time you spend on mindfulness meditation.

I wish you a life full of awareness, serenity, and clarity. Please, remember to let me know how this works for you.

Much Love,

Veronica