Mindfulness is something that has been around for ages in different civilizations but it seems like we have just caught up as a culture to mindfulness. This is a term that in recent years seems to be everywhere, whether you attend a yoga class regularly or if you just follow any celebrity that talks about mindfulness. You hear this term but you may not know exactly what it is. This will help you learn everything about mindfulness and show you just why you should be following this hot trend.
But what does it mean to be mindful?
By paying attention to the present moment, we can begin to appreciate what we already have in life—and grasp the key to life.
The problem is that mindfulness means something different to everyone. Some people believe that to be truly mindful they need to always be in a state of meditation, or at least a state that is always calm and thoughtful. Others feel that it is more about not judging other people for who they are while being more present in their everyday life. No matter which type of mindful person you are, you are following a distinct ideology that aims to help you live a more fulfilling life. How mindful you are is not the issue; it is whether you put that mindfulness into action.
Do you?
You can use mindfulness in your everyday life in a variety of different ways.
One big way that you can do this is to be mindful about what you eat. When you cook yourself some food, take a very close look at what is in the food that you are eating. If you are eating foods that are heavily processed and full of undesirable things like additives and preservatives, this may not be ideal for living a healthy life. You could also be eating foods that are full of pesticides that can be harmful to your health. If you blindly eat these foods, you could be putting yourself at risk. Be sure to look close at the ingredients and see what you are putting in your body so that you can make more conscious decisions. This also applies to working out. Exercise is important but everyone is different. Some people need more exercise than others. You need to be mindful of your body to give it exactly what it needs without overexertion, which can be very bad for your body. Pay attention to what it needs so that you do not push yourself and cause damage to your body.
You should also make yourself more mindful of what is going on around you by staying up-to-date with current events. Read the news and get different viewpoints so that you can make your own informed decisions.
Another technique that you should focus on is your mindfulness of your thoughts and body sensations. This is tapping into yourself in the way it feels and thinks. Next time you are carrying your groceries into your house, pay attention to how your body is feeling. Are your hands tired? How many steps do you have to take? Pay attention to all the details and you will be 100% in the moment. As for your mind, we all have wandering thoughts – daydreams, nightmares, our ‘inner voice’- but what is our mind telling us? Pay attention to what your thoughts say about you.
A good technique is mindfulness of the breath. Watching the breath is a good way of training the mind to be in the moment. But it’s surprisingly hard to be mindful of each. This is a big practice within yoga and meditation. Focus on your breathing, with one deep inhale and exhale you will notice your mind begin to shift. You can begin just to observe it, without bringing opinions, anticipation, and judgment.
These are only a few of the ways that you can use this new brand of mindfulness in your daily life. Being mindful is so important to your overall health. You will have a better quality of life because you will be happier and your body will be healthier. You can take small steps every day to become a more mindful you.