Mindfulness means being aware of the present moment. It is all about living here and NOW! Mindfulness is an art and frees one from becoming entangled in the thoughts of the past and being anxious about the future.
Well, most of the people think whether it is even possible to remain in touch with the present moment, particularly given the fact that the mind keeps swaying from one thought to another very often. For beginners, mindfulness might be a little challenging; they might find it difficult to keep attention fixed in ‘the moment.’
How does mindfulness work? Is it like meditating on a mantra or sound? Of course not. Mindfulness does not require a person to concentrate on a specific word or sound. It aims at achieving a well relaxed and non-judgmental awareness of one’s feelings, thoughts and sensations; in other words, it is all about directly becoming aware of what is happening inside and outside oneself, moment by moment.
Many people mistake mindfulness for concentration. But, the fact is both are different. Concentration helps you focus the entire attention on one thing or the other and assists you in taking command of what is going on in the mind. Mindfulness is one step beyond concentration. It is a state of awareness. It is pure ‘presence’ of mind!
How mindfulness helps…
When you are totally focused on the present moment, it becomes really hard to stay anxious. Focusing on the present moment means focusing on what you are doing and sensing RIGHT NOW! This is a little different from what we normally do when we are anxious: actually get stuck in our heads and keep thinking about everything that could probably go wrong. An anxious brain just loves to hang out in the mysterious future and think and worry about all possible bad things that could take place. An anxious brain is creative to the maximum and comes up with the most stunning worst-case scenarios! Moreover, it likes to be preoccupied about the past and always dwell on the regrets. An anxious mind does not allow you to notice the lovely and pleasant experiences around you.
Let us take an example. Just imagine you are trying to learn how to swim. As you get into the water, you decide that you should focus on the present rather than worrying about what will happen tomorrow. You feel the cool water, nice breeze and the warm sun on your body. You look up and watch the wonderful sky above you. You also smell the salt water and are aware of any tiny fish in the waters. As you move forward, you feel water on more parts of your body. All your senses are alive and completely focused on the moment. This is a great start to your swimming lessons in a mindful way!
How to practice mindfulness?
There are several mindfulness exercises designed to expand your ability to focus in the present moment. In fact, these exercises are remarkable ways to enhance your ability to concentrate. Practicing these exercises makes it easier for you to meditate because in the process you are strengthening the right mental muscles.
Mindfulness is something that should be integrated into every moment of life. Mindfulness exercises help experience the moments of mindfulness, that is, brief awakenings. In order to experience the real benefits of mindfulness, it is crucial to learn to slowly incorporate mindfulness into almost everything you do. It is also important to learn practicing formal mindfulness meditation.
We offer a variation of 3 audio guided meditation sets. These could get you started with meditation and are easy to follow with clear guidance. If you’d like to start meditating these guided meditations are a good way to start. Just follow the link below to take a look at them.
Take a look at our Guided Meditations!
