Mindfulness and how it can change your life - with recording
Listen to the session with Victoria from 12:30pm Tuesday 10th May 2022
Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of our thoughts, feelings and sensations in the present moment. Our mind can go to the past and future in no time at all - which is great for problem solving but it’s not always great for our well-being. Nowadays we have constant distractions , there’s little opportunity to be bored and most of us find it harder and harder to switch off. We often confuse zoning out for relaxation and see multi tasking as a good thing.
With our busy lives and a phone addiction that is seen as normal, it’s more important than ever to find a way to be present. If you struggle to do one thing at a time, can’t sit still and find it hard to relax then mindfulness is for you!
Mindfulness isn’t sitting in the lotus position on top of a mountain! It’s paying attention to the here and now.
Here are some practical ways to bring awareness:
The aim is to notice, not to stop thinking. We have more flexibility and autonomy when we see ourselves as an observer rather than our thoughts being all-consuming.
Our thoughts aren’t instructions. Not everything we think is true or needs acting on.
Our bodies are always present. Using our 5 senses can be very grounding and help us to get out of heads and into the present moment. Focus on what you can see, hear, smell, touch and taste.
Use something to focus on. It could be a word or phrase, your breath, a candle, an image, a sound - anything really. “This” or “here and now” can be helpful.
Be patient and compassionate with yourself. Mindfulness is a skill, it’s almost like unlearning how we’ve adapted to cope with modern life. I suggest treating our wandering mind like a puppy or a toddler running off, rather than get annoyed or frustrated, just gently and kindly guide your mind back to where you want it to focus.
Sometimes paying attention to ourselves in this way can bring emotions or thoughts to the surface. This isn’t always comfortable but it can be the beginning of understanding ourselves in a deeper way. If it feels too intense then stop. Look after yourself. Get some support with this - if you’d like to chat then get in touch (form and email below).
Benefits
It isn’t just a nice thing to do, there is a lot research and evidence that a regular practice can help people feel:
More resilient and better at spotting negative thought patterns
Reduced anxiety and depression
Calmer and less reactive
Better at concentrating and improved memory
Many physical health benefits - see here for more details.
Get started
Mindfulness is a quality you bring to what you normally do every day. Choose one thing today that you could experiment with doing more mindfully.
If you’re not sure where to start then try this:
Savour your first drink or meal of the day. Take a moment to notice the temperature, the smell, how it tastes, any colour or reflection of light and textures. Imagine if you savoured every drink or meal in this way.
Interested in giving mindfulness a try? Join our next live session or listen to the recordings here.