What is Mindfulness?

 

Mindfulness means being in the present moment, without judgement.

 

“Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience. It isn’t more complicated than that. It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is, without either clinging to it or rejecting it.” Sylvia Boorstein

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Instead of focusing on what we are doing, a lot of us tend to spend time multi-tasking in an unfocused way, doing things on ‘automatic pilot’, ruminating on the past or worrying about the future.

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For example, think back to the last meal you ate. What were you doing when you were eating? Focusing on how it looked, smelt, tasted and the experience of eating? Or was your mind elsewhere? In this way we miss out on life, because we are not fully present.

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Why Be Mindful?

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If we make time to fully experience and appreciate each moment, we can start to cultivate a greater peace of mind. Mindfulness practice can be helpful in addressing emotions like anxiety and depression. It can reduce our stress levels and bring many related health benefits (improved sleep, coping skills, concentration, digestion, reduced pain).

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By practising being more present in all we do, we can also begin to appreciate more, to develop more compassion for ourselves and others, and in doing so enrich our experience of life.

 

What is Mindfulness Not? 

 

Mindfulness is not about ‘increasing productivity’ or ‘changing what you think and feel’. Nor is it an exercise in ‘emptying the mind’ or ‘escaping reality’. It is not even about ‘meditating’ or ‘being calm and relaxed’.

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It does help us do some of these things better, but at its core, mindfulness is simply about being more aware of what is going on around us, and within us, in the moment. Mindfulness itself is very simple, but takes time to master, like any skill worth learning. It is gentle but powerful, and potentially life-changing!

 

How Do I Learn and Practice?

 

Workshops are a great place to start learning and practising mindfulness! Many people find it easier to practise in a group, as it can be more motivating and they find the supportive atmosphere helpful. Please check here for upcoming workshops. You can also find many mindfulness videos on YouTube, please see my videos on this page, or click here to access my channel.

 

You can practice anywhere at anytime, just by bringing your awareness to the present moment. Focus on the breath, each part of your body in turn, or on one of your senses. Play with focusing on  something like your experience of showering or bathing - notice the feeling and temperature of the water on your skin, the smell of the shower gel, the sight of the rainbow bubbles...come to your senses!