A Guide To Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a state of focusing one's attention on the present. When people are mindful, they observe their thoughts and/or feelings from a distance without harboring judgmental thoughts about said thoughts and feelings. Instead of allowing one's life to 'pass them by' unobserved, mindfulness allows people to better live in the moment, essentially awakening them to their life experiences.
Mindfulness is an ideal state of mind that most people should consider attaining. Too many people are focused on the past and even the future, thoughts that make them essentially forgo living in the present. If those same people can understand why they focus on the past and future so much, they probably wouldn't have any further difficulties in their lives. Mindfulness more or less helps people become more grounded, which can help them better understand how and why things happen to them in the present.
Becoming more mindful involves simple meditation. Mindfulness meditation is a process that takes as long as a person wants it to take, usually averaging at around 5 to 10 minutes per day. You can even lengthen your meditation time to one more appropriate for you.
How can you get involved with mindfulness meditation? The meditation process can be broken down into a few simple steps, mainly involving getting into the right state of mind.
Here's a few tips you can use for mindfulness meditation:
- Sit upright and pay attention to your body. Sitting upright helps keep your mind focused and you spine straight and relaxed. It's advised to sit in a straight-backed chair or even a firm cushion on the ground. Once in position, you can start becoming more aware of your body, starting with actually feeling how parts of your body work.
- Remain still and silent. Staying still during meditation essentially helps you maintain focus on your body. Silence does too—it's a necessity when you start becoming more aware of your mind. Maintaining silence also involves losing inner chatter, thoughts that can distract you from your focus.
- Pay attention to your breathing. Observe how you inhale and exhale air. This awareness can help you achieve a calmer state of mind, especially when discerning how your breathing feels within your nose, chest and belly.
It takes time to get used to using meditation to become more mindful. In fact, for some people it feels strange. If you're just starting out, set aside some time throughout the week to start meditating. It can become very much worth the effort, since it can bring a better sense of inner peacefulness.