Mindfulness- What Is It And How Can We Practice It ?

Mindfulness is a deliberate act of being, a deliberate act of living.

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to be present, to not just be alive but to truly live? Most of us spend our days on autopilot – immersed in the thoughts of our minds, mulling over the past, deciphering the actions and reactions for people. Therefore, leaving us left drained, uninspired and empty.

To truly live is to be mindful. Likewise, mindfulness is both a practice and a state of being – to be completely immersed in the present and in tune with one’s emotions, behaviour, and thoughts. Admittedly it sounds complicated, I assure you once you learn how how you can practice mindfulness at home, you’ll see that it is no rocket science.

5 ways on Practising Mindfulness

• Observe your breathing  

Ilchi Lee said something very beautiful in his book “The Twelve Enlightenments”,

“Observe your own body. It breathes. You breathe when you are asleep, when you are no longer conscious of your own ideas of self-identity.

Who, then, is breathing? The collection of information that you mistakenly think it’s you is not the main protagonist in this drama called the breath. In fact, you are not breathing; breath is naturally happening to you. You can purposely end your own life, but you cannot purposely keep your own life going. The expression, “My life” is actually an oxymoron, a result of ignorance and mistaken assumption.

You don’t possess life; life expresses itself through you. Your body is a flower that life let bloom, a phenomenon created by life.”

As a result, you are momentarily free from the clutches of overthinking.

•       Meditation

Meditation might very well be the hallmark of mindfulness, with its numerous benefits to one’s cognitive development. This practice gives us space, allows us to just be, to just breathe and to just feel. Mindful.Org does a great job of explaining the simplicity of meditation. The key I believe is to be kind to oneself, and one’s thoughts – the mind may wander but that’s okay, just slowly come back to your breathing, your self.

• Connect with your senses.

Caught up in our thoughts, we sometimes overlook the little things around us.

So next time, pause to soak up the wonderful aroma of coffee and freshly baked bread in the morning. The beautiful sight of your loved ones laughing and smiling, the smell of mowed grass and the ground after the rain. Notice the way the sky is painted beautiful hues of pastel at dusk and the sound of birds chirping at dawn. While these are what entices me most, perhaps for you it may be different. Find what brings you joy, relish that.

• Observe Your Thoughts And Emotions

However, observing your thoughts and emotions can be quite a task, especially if you have tried meditation before.  Mark Manson states in his article that the trick is to accept and to let go. He adds, “Language is very powerful. Disidentifying from these emotions and thoughts in this way does two things: 1) implies that they’re temporary states, and not permanent conditions; and 2) forces you to take responsibility for them. They’re nobody’s fault, they just are.”

Probably why most people look to journaling, myself included.

• Listen Wholeheartedly

I remember seeing a quote somewhere saying “ We only ever listen to reply “ and it hit me, I was so guilty of that.

How many of us listen to others only to find flaws and retaliate? Getting lost in the train of thought while thinking of a reply? This might not be an easy habit to beat. Conversely, listening wholeheartedly can change the way you shape your relationships with the people you love. Perhaps next time try to listen, to really listen to what the person in front of you has to say and trust in you – that you’ll be able to know what to say next without getting lost in the train of thought.

This moment is your life. I invite you to pause, breathe, and take it all in.

Life will unfold ever so magically.  

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Tags

• breathing
• healthy living
• meditation
• mental health