Mindfulness has become the buzzword in numerous health and wellness circles that it’s hard not to try and learn a thing or two about it from time to time. After all, with all the hustle and bustle that make up our days, it’s not surprising that we don’t have much time to stay and be still.
But what is mindfulness all about?
Mindfulness is basically being focused on a task, completely aware of your feelings as well as thoughts, but not being controlled or obsessed by them. Where you are is in the now without wondering about the past or future.
Mindfulness for Beginners
If you are just starting out in practicing mindfulness, you may feel a little out of depth at first. After all, where should you begin with all this mindfulness? That said, there are a few tips to consider when it comes to mindfulness such as:
Breathe
The first thing that you need to do when you are trying to practice mindfulness is to breathe. Breathe in deeply, hold for three counts, then exhale. Count seven breaths and repeat. You’ll find that your mind feels more relaxed afterwards.
Non-judging
We are the most critical of ourselves that it is hard not to avoid this habit of ours, but when it comes to mindfulness, it is important that you let go of judging all of your actions as much as possible. Train yourself to become an impartial witness to all of your experiences, from body sensations, feelings, and thoughts even.
Have a mindful drink
Another tip to start with your mindfulness journey is to have a good drink in the morning made from hot water, cayenne pepper, and lemon. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and enjoy it.
Letting go and letting be
Letting be is to simply let things be the way they are without trying to let go of whatever it is that is at the present. Letting go, on the other hand, is more on releasing whatever it is that you are holding on to. It sounds hard at the start and may be difficult to teach yourself to do it, but it is worth a start. Being mindful means being aware of your train of thoughts and learning how to let it be or let it go.
Listen deeply
Another tip on how to become more mindful is to actually learn how to listen deeply. Most of us have forgotten what it is like to listen to others before responding that we end up with plenty of confusion and miscommunication in the process. By actually paying attention to what others are saying, you will be able to respond in a correct manner too.
Acceptance and acknowledgement
Acceptance is being able to see things the way they are in this moment, while acknowledgement is validating and accepting things the way they are. These two are essential in mindfulness but we forget most of the time. By accepting the things that are happening at the moment and being able to acknowledge them, you will be able to quiet your mind.
Do not multitask
If you want to be able to practice your mindfulness, you will need to learn to do one thing at a time rather than multitasking. You see, when you do several things at a time, your focus will be scattered all over the place. You won’t be able to do all things perfectly because of it.
These are just a few tips on how you can help yourself begin your mindfulness journey which has to start one step at a time.
