What is: Mindfulness

 Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing ones awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. There are many books and theories available that tell us to 'live in moment' or get into the 'here and now'. It sounds like good sense but how do we actually achieve this presence of mind? How do we develop mindfulness?
You don’t need to meditate in a cave for days on end, or don a leotard and go to a Yoga class. It’s much simpler than that. You can become present in the moment by doing some very simple things.

Everyday mindfulness

•         Drink a glass of water slowly and observe the temperature of the water. See how the glass feels in your hand and the sensation of the water on your tongue

•         Try walking at a slower pace than your usual speed. Observe the sensations that arise from that.  If you’re in familiar landscape you may notice something new , or a feeling of impatience may arise as you want to reach your destination more quickly

•         If you are waiting in a queue or a traffic jam try observing your breathing. Maybe count five breathes in through the nose. Is the breath shallow or deep, fast or slow?

•        If you are sitting right now, observe how your buttocks feel against the chair   

The benefits of mindfulness

Through developing mindfulness we can start to enjoy a better quality of life; being mindful can help us to deal with stressful situations in a calm and clearer way, as we become less immersed in our thoughts and start to observe life in the third person. Interactions with others can become richer as we take a step back from our old habit patterns, stop reacting and start observing.  Mindfulness can lessen or even prevent depression and anxiety as well as enabling people to become free of addiction. Often we can find ourselves wrapped up in thoughts, be they pleasant or unpleasant. Thoughts of past events can make us sad, angry or regretful and take us away from what is actually happening in the here and now, adversely affecting our moods. We can easily get caught up in fantasies about other people or visions of our ideal or terrifying future. Being mindful can help us to distance ourselves from these thoughts and allow us to be fully available to life as it is, in the present moment.

Practicing mindfulness

Like any other skill mindfulness takes practice to develop. It can be very frustrating at times as you become more aware of the minds ability to run away with itself and pull you along with it, away from the here and now. But with some openness and dedication the benefits will become apparent and your life can improve dramatically. This is not a quick fix or a way to change the world, but an opportunity to see things as they really are by building awareness and beginning to experience your mind and body in a new way. As Socrates said “Know thyself”.