There’s nothing simpler in the world than practicing mindfulness - just take a seat, draw your attention towards your breath, and encourage your mind to return to the present if and when it wanders.
What is Mindfulness?
Simply put, mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully aware of where you are and what you are doing. In other words, it is the art of staying present in the moment.
It is common to find oneself lost, and the train of thought scattered into a million different directions. So rarely are people able to be satisfied with the present moment. Often, we remain lost in thought over things that do not matter in the present- be it dwelling on the past, or being overwhelmed by the future.
However, it is all in your head. If you wish to, you can control your mind and learn how stay in the present, by stimulating the mind with mindfulness techniques.
Practicing Mindfulness on the Go
Believe it or not, every single task you perform in a day can be done in a more mindful manner. Think about the times you are most lost in spiraling thoughts everyday: while brushing your teeth, combing your hair, exercising, or trying to do homework. You might even find yourself dazing in outer space while talking to friends!
In such instances, you have to learn to be more mindful of your actions. Whenever you catch your thoughts drifting off, draw them back and focus all your attention in the present moment.
Once you develop the art of mindfulness within yourself, and practice it regularly in your daily life, you won’t feel the necessity of meditating.
The Bottom Line
Being mindful is said to be a very simple trait. However, practicing it, and developing the habit of being mindful while indulging in small everyday tasks, can be quite challenging to nail down.
The best advice we have is to keep practicing mindfulness until it becomes second nature to you. Surely, the results will come through with practice.
If you are looking for mindfulness training for children, please visit Mindfulness Academy of Asia.