Mindfulness is described as the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, and experiences on a moment-to-moment basis. A state of present awareness. Mindfulness Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster. Allowing yourself to think freely with no concern, judgment, stress, or attached feelings, is mindfulness. It helps you see the bigger picture, gain different perspectives and peace of mind. With practice, being mindful will become second nature.
1. Find or create a quiet place. I made a cozy corner in my living room. This will be where you start your mindfulness journey. Your cozy corner may not even be a corner; it could very well be in the bathroom first thing in the morning. The location will change because it won't matter. Eventually, you won't have to be in a specific place or need complete silent to practice.
2. It will be hard to shush the stress and anxiety that comes with some thoughts but keep at it. Don't get discouraged and do your best not to push yourself too hard or punish yourself for losing focus. Being mindful is always saying, "I am doing great, right now." Stay in the present with your thoughts and constantly be aware.
3. Set a timer. I started with 5 minutes. I remember how it felt like forever. It was forever. Time translates differently when in this meditative state. Make it a challenge by choosing a specific thought and focusing only on that thought for a certain amount of time. Gradually give yourself more time and allow your thoughts to flow naturally. Eventually, this will be an all-day thing without being or feeling like a timed task.
With anything new, consistency is key. Growth doesn't happen overnight. I still remember learning what being mindful is and how hard I struggled to focus. Once I decided to create a schedule of practice, it started to come naturally. Becoming a mindful person has decreased my stresses and anxiety, tremendously. You will learn to live in the present. We cannot change anything from our past and we should not try so hard to control the future. The mindful decisions we make today, determine our tomorrow.
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