Give Your Mind a Break! Try a Little Mindfulness

Mindfulness can be described as awareness that happens by paying attention. Mindfulness is purposeful, in the present moment and non-judgmental. We can bring this present-moment awareness to any activity such as playing with our kids, weeding our garden, or washing the dishes.

But we don’t often slow down enough to pay close attention in this way. More often, our attention tends to be focused on the future, replaying the past without any real awareness of what is happening in the present moment.  This recognition is a perfect starting point for trying a little mindfulness.

How do we begin?

As strange as it may sound, our bodies are the gateway to the present moment. When we are busy thinking, planning and ruminating, we are in our minds and not present to what is happening. But when we are anchored in our bodies – noticing our breath, listening to sounds, or feeling our feet – we can find our way back to the present moment.

So try this: Bring your attention to the sensations in your hands. You might shut your eyes for a moment. Do you feel warmth or tingling or pulsing? Just notice, on purpose, without judgement. No need to worry if you are doing it “right” or long enough or if you are feeling things fully enough. Just notice the sensations of your hands. That is the practice of mindfulness and it can be applied to anything we are doing.

Everyday Mindfulness

Many people think that you have to meditate for hours to still the mind and become fully present. While formal meditation practice is a great way to build the “mindfulness muscle,” it is not the only way.

There are endless ways to practice slowing down and bringing awareness to your activities.

• When you sit down to eat, can you taste the food in your mouth and smell the flavors?
• While you are driving your car, can you notice the scenery around you and feel the wind on your body through the open window?
• When you interact with another person, can you listen fully without formulating a response in your head until that person is finished speaking?
• We can apply mindfulness to so many areas of our lives. What is possible if we slow down and pay attention even for just a short period of time every day? How might that impact our health, our relationships, our bank accounts? How would it feel to give our minds a break and let ourselves be rather than constantly do?

Give mindfulness a try!