What does it mean when someone says ‘be mindful’? Is it a concept? Is it a bunch of exercises to calm you down? Is it mediation? It is a bit of all of that and more; Mindfulness can perhaps be understood as a state of being. It is when we bring our awareness to our thoughts, feelings and bodies, and observe them from a non-judgemental space.
Mindfulness traces back to Buddhist philosophy and practices. From a Buddhist perspective, time is just another illusion of the mind as there is only the present moment. If you observe your thoughts you will realise how you are either thinking about the past (a memory) or the the future (anticipation/prediction). And between these two thoughts we are unable to be present in the ‘here and now’. Mindfulness is about being present not just with your thoughts and physical body, but also with your awareness, in this moment.
Positive psychology (a branch of psychology) utilizes mindfulness practices, as a fundamental tool, as research states that it brings a rather positive effect and improves an individual's mental and physical health. It is also used as a tool in clinical psychology, given that it has been proved highly effective in cases of stress management and anxiety.
This can perhaps be hard to grasp, but practicing this basic mediation flow can help you broaden and internalize your understanding of being present and mindful, of yourself and your surroundings.
Mindfulness Meditation:
Create an ambience that helps you calm down. It can be indoor/outdoor, you can use peaceful music, incense stick/ light a candle, sit on the ground/ cushion and rest against the wall, if need be.
Sit down, close your eyes and relax.
For the next 2 minutes bring your awareness to your surroundings - birds chirping, breeze, music, chatter and everything else that you can hear and feel.
Slowly bring your awareness to your breath and for the next 10 minutes (or more, if you wish) take notice of what is happening within you - thoughts, emotions, sensations and feelings.
Don’t try to brush away anything that comes up. Acknowledge these experiences without making any judgments.
If you find yourself making judgment, acknowledge that as well, and be present with it.
Remember, there is no right or wrong way of practicing this exercise. Practice this each day, increasing the length of your observation time and journal your experience, if you wish to.
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Love and Light!
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