Gain mental clarity effortlessly
Mindfulness. A term that is now as normal in western culture as asking ‘How are you’ originates from the East, in Buddhist meditation.
Mindfulness is learning to notice and accept your thoughts and feelings. It forces you to pay attention and focus on the present moment, not the past or the future, and to be fully in the moment. It provides a break from distractions and life stresses.
It allows us to bring a fresh perspective to our thoughts, make sense of them and notice how they make us feel.
Mindfulness is the perfect practice to feel calmer and let any negative thoughts float on.
It improves your self-esteem and self-talk. You become self-aware of negative thoughts and inner talk, which allows you to stand back and act as an observer. Make sense of them. A previous “I am anxious” statement turns into “I am having anxious thoughts”. A temporary feeling you know will pass.
Mindfulness was once something seen as a practice performed by the enlightened, the monks in the East, but now it is part of many in the West’s daily life. Lets see how:
1. Start your day with a mindful morning where you decide how you want to feel for the day ahead.
Take five to ten minutes to check in on yourself, focus on your breathing and allow your thoughts to settle. Set an intention for the day e.g. “ I want to feel energised”.
Perform one of your morning activities mindfully – brushing your teeth, boiling the kettle for your morning cuppa or drying your hair. Solely focus on it, nothing else. Feel the sensation of a quiet, focused mind. There is no need to think of the day ahead. Just be in the moment.
2. Take 5 minutes and bring yourself back into the now by focusing on the present moment.
How? By becoming aware of your surroundings and environment. List mentally five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can feel, two things you can taste, and one smell.
3. End your day with a reflection on the day.
Usually, this is the time of the day when worry can flood in and make us feel anxious, especially if we are tired. It isn’t until you stop, that thoughts and feelings which have been bubbling away rise to the surface. Lie in a comfy warm place and focus on your breathing. Perform a body scan where you imagine your breath flowing through your body, one part at a time. Clearing out any negative energy or thoughts. You will feel lighter, and ready for a good sleep.
Day to Day Mindfulness is a practice – a skill you keep tuning into. You will slowly feel and observe the mental clarity. Don’t underestimate the power of a five-minute mindful activity as a clear mind allows you to think and act with purpose.