If you’re like many people today, you may feel overwhelmed, and are constantly living in a state of being on the go, with no time to stop and make peace with your mind.
Mindfulness is all about focusing your attention on the present moment without judgement or preconception.
It’s about embracing life just as it is right now without feeling that it needs to change. In doing this, we can experience a sense of fulfilment and happiness that is completely free from negative thoughts and feelings.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a state of being that brings us into the moment, allowing us to be completely present in and aware of the current situation. It’s about getting rid of all the thoughts and worries from your head and just being totally absorbed in whatever you’re doing.
Just focus on what you’re doing, how your body feels, how your mind is feeling and not pay attention to everything around you.
When we can focus our attention on the present moment, and not on any judgement or preconceived notions or ideas we tend to overlook the little details and truly experience what is happening right in front of us.
Often we miss out on those special moments because we’re too busy thinking about something else, or we can’t quite figure out how to describe it. But when you learn how to be mindful you will be able to experience those moments fully and completely, getting rid of any worries or doubts in the process.
Benefits of Mindfulness
There are many benefits to being mindful and they are not all just about having a happy mind. When we can get into this state of awareness, not only do we begin to experience the richness of the moment, but by clearing our minds of clutter we actually clear away stress and anxiety as well. It’s also a great way for us to slow down and de-stress, which could help us live healthier lives.
Mindfulness can also help us be more productive in our lives, especially at work.
With all of the time we spend thinking about what’s coming up, what happened yesterday or even things that happened years ago, we can find it difficult to deal with whatever is happening today. When we are mindful we can clear away those distracting thoughts and actually get on with positively contributing to our lives and our careers.
Practising Mindfulness
The best way to develop your mindfulness is through practice. Try to start each day by making some sort of effort and commitment to yourself, then try to follow it up with another 15 minutes or so a couple of times during the day, and you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel.
Other ways you could begin practising mindfulness are through meditation or yoga. Both are excellent ways of relaxing your mind and body because they put your focus on what is happening now rather than worrying about problems in the future.
This is especially important for those with anxiety or depression, because by practising mindfulness you can begin to see the good in your life, and no longer feel like there’s a whole load of negative things you have to put up with.
Most people who are depressed spend too much time worrying about the future and fretting over bad memories from the past. When you practice mindfulness you can begin to focus on the present moment, which is all that truly exists.
Closing Statement
As you can see, there are many benefits to mindfulness. In the end, it’s not a magic cure-all for all of life’s problems, but it’s a great way for us to manage our lives and learn how to live in the present moment no matter what is going on around us.
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