Mindfulness: you’ve heard of it, but you’re not really sure of what it is. And you certainly have no idea how to practice it. That said, you’re interested.
That’s why you’ve come here. You’re looking for an introduction to mindfulness and all that it entails. Fortunately, we have the information you seek.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the concept of being entirely present in one’s existence. It’s about focusing on what’s happening at the moment while shutting out past and future influences.
Though mindfulness is not inherent within a person, it can be practiced and improved upon. Generally speaking, the more a person practices mindfulness, the more reflexive it becomes within that person. And those who practice mindfulness on a regular basis tend to handle chaotic and anxiety-ridden situations with a sense of calm.
How to Practice Mindfulness
There is no default way to practice mindfulness. That said, there are several methods that tend to help more than others. They include the following.
Meditation
If you’re just getting started in practicing mindfulness, you’re advised to do so via meditation. Meditation is a common vehicle for mindfulness, as it requires the meditator to focus on a particular thought, feeling, or object. This is a fairly simple thing for most individuals to do.
By focusing on a thought, feeling, or object, the meditator is provoked to live in the moment, experiencing the entirety of his or her surroundings to their fullest extent. The more meditation a person does, the better he or she becomes at it. And the better he or she becomes at it, the more ease he or she has in practicing mindfulness.
There are a number of different types of meditation. However, if you’re looking to practice mindfulness, you would be best served by learning mindfulness meditation, in particular.
Focusing on Your Breath
While meditation is a good way to practice structured mindfulness, it’s not always possible in real-world scenarios. As such, in order to apply mindfulness to real-life scenarios, you should practice it in unstructured ways as well. The best way to do so is to focus on your breath.
Whenever you’re stressed or trapped in a chaotic situation, direct your thoughts to the sound of your breathing. By focusing on your breathing, you’ll be able to slow the thoughts in your mind. This will allow you to collect yourself and experience the moment that’s occurring, not the moment that was or the moment that will soon be.
Establish Lifelong Habits With This Introduction to Mindfulness
This introduction to mindfulness is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re truly interested in pursuing the concept as a whole, you’re going to have to take a deeper dive. Nonetheless, this guide should set you on the right path.
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