CAN YOU LIVE MORE MINDFULLY?

Numerous articles on achieving that mindful state seem to suggest we should all be walking around in a permanent state of zen!

However, real life often differs greatly from the idealised images seen in magazines and on Instagram. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy when struggling to get the children ready and out the door, arriving late to a 9 a.m. meeting, or juggling work deadlines whilst trying to place an online food shop due to a lack of time actually to go to the supermarket. Namaste!

Let us take the pressure off ourselves – even if just for a moment.  When you think of the principle of mindfulness, it is about being in the present and living in the NOW.

When you compare yourself to others and to the ‘How to be Zen in Ten’ picture-perfect magazine articles, you are so far removed from this place of being present, as your mind will be creating anxiety about your perceived shortcomings as you worry about what you haven’t done and fret about what you need to do.

STOP … and breathe!  

The first step of being mindful has been taken.  You have taken that time to pause for a moment and to connect to your breath.

Next, ask yourself if you are safe and well at this precise moment.  Is your answer yes?  Take another breath and connect to the journey of the breath as you gently inhale and exhale.

If you focus on your breathing, its rhythm and flow, you should start feeling calmer.  

At its core, mindfulness is about focusing on one's breath, thoughts, body sensations, actions (such as what one is doing), and surroundings.

Once you are aware of your breathing pattern, start tuning in to how your body feels. You may want to scan your body, just acknowledging how each part feels—no judgement, no need to force any change.

And what about your thoughts?  Now, you are focusing on your breath and how your body feels. Does your mind feel a little calmer?  It’s often the mind racing away which can create feelings of tension and anxiety.  We have thousands of thoughts every day, and a lot of these thoughts can be repetitive or lean towards the negative.  Being mindful can be difficult when we’re in this state of an overly busy mind.

Awareness also plays a big part in mindfulness. Like everything, it is a work-in-progress. The more you become aware of your thoughts, your breath, and your body, the easier it will be to enter a state of mindfulness.

Now that you are listening within and tuning into your body and your breath, your mind has a chance to focus on this and gain some space amongst the usual avalanche of thoughts.  It feels good, right?

So, what if you now focus your attention outside of the body… in a mindful way, that is!  

Start small and with something easy.  

For example, you brush your teeth daily, but do you ever think about what you do in that state of mindfulness?  Paying attention to the taste of the toothpaste, the feel of the toothbrush's bristles against your teeth and gums, the sound of the brushing?  Most of us don’t!  You are probably going through your tasks for the day whilst you carry out this mundane task.

However, what if you focused on this regular activity with a new sense of curiosity and connection? You may find that you take more time to brush your teeth or become aware of areas you haven’t brushed properly.  

It can be eye-opening to apply this level of focus to tasks we tend to do without thinking.  This is just one example of mindfulness.

Think about all the other routine tasks you perform each day. Driving the car, making a coffee, washing up, eating a meal—every activity you do can be done more mindfully.

Give it a go and see what you notice and how you feel.  Do you start doing things differently because you are now paying attention to what you do?  

A lovely way to explore being more mindful is when you are out walking.  You may be walking the dog, popping to the shops, or going on a longer walk in the countryside.  The route, reason or length of time you walk really doesn’t matter.  What matters is the attention you give to the act of walking.  Start by finding the flow and rhythm of your breath and connecting with the breath filling your lungs.  Next, bring your attention to how your body feels as you walk.  Feel the rolling through the foot from heel to toe with each step.  Does your body feel like it is moving with ease?  Do you need to slow your pace to be able to connect more easily to your body?  Explore and have fun with this new discovery of mindful walking.

Then, once you are in your flow, bring your attention to your surroundings.  Wherever you are, what do you see?  What do you hear?  Are you connecting to any aromas?  If you are walking in nature, you may reach to stroke the leaves of a tree, stop to look at the vibrancy of the colours around you and listen to the sound of the birds.

When we connect with ourselves in this way, and especially with the world around us, we experience life much more engagedly. We live rather than drift through each day in a dreamlike state.  

So, have fun exploring the world of mindfulness - and enjoy the journey!