What is mindfulness?
Have you ever had one of those days where you just can't seem to settle down? Every little thing distracts you, nothing seems to work the way it's supposed to, and you find yourself getting more and more irritated as the day goes on.
Then again, maybe you've had a day where everything seemed to flow smoothly. You were able to get into the zone, focus on what you wanted to do, and even if problems came up you were able to handle them effortlessly.
Mindfulness is about giving us more of the second kind of experience, and less of the first! It's a scientifically validated way to approach our lives which helps us to focus better, manage the negative effects of stress, pain and difficult emotions, and ultimately to get more out of life.
The core of mindfulness is awareness, specifically the kind of awareness that arises when we pay attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally.
Mindfulness is not a 'religious' practice and does not require us to believe (or not believe) anything in particular. Mindfulness simply asks us to look at what is happening, right now, and see it for what it is.
How do I get started?
The easiest way is to try my short Mindfulness 101 video course. This will introduce you to the basics of mindfulness and get you practising right away.
If you'd like more suggestions, or if you prefer a written introduction to the practice, take a look at the Practising Mindfulness page.
You can also find many YouTube videos and apps with guided mindfulness meditations. Another option is to find a local class or mindfulness practice group - doing this practice is much easier when we have like-minded people around us!
Have you ever had one of those days where you just can't seem to settle down? Every little thing distracts you, nothing seems to work the way it's supposed to, and you find yourself getting more and more irritated as the day goes on.
Then again, maybe you've had a day where everything seemed to flow smoothly. You were able to get into the zone, focus on what you wanted to do, and even if problems came up you were able to handle them effortlessly.
Mindfulness is about giving us more of the second kind of experience, and less of the first! It's a scientifically validated way to approach our lives which helps us to focus better, manage the negative effects of stress, pain and difficult emotions, and ultimately to get more out of life.
The core of mindfulness is awareness, specifically the kind of awareness that arises when we pay attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally.
- Paying attention: Consciously directing your attention to something, and gently bringing it back whenever you notice it's wandered away.
- On purpose: Putting your attention where you want it to go, not where someone else wants it to go!
- In the present moment: We spend a lot of time reliving the past and worrying about the future, but our lives happen right here, right now. Don't miss your life!
- Non-judgementally: Mindfulness practice isn't about 'right' and 'wrong' or 'good' and 'bad'. In mindfulness practice it isn't 'good' to be focused and 'bad' to be distracted - mindfulness is about seeing what's going on as clearly as we can, no matter what's happening. Learning to relate to our experience without immediately trying to make it better creates space around our experiences and allows us to choose how to respond (if we need to respond at all) rather than simply reacting out of habit.
Mindfulness is not a 'religious' practice and does not require us to believe (or not believe) anything in particular. Mindfulness simply asks us to look at what is happening, right now, and see it for what it is.
How do I get started?
The easiest way is to try my short Mindfulness 101 video course. This will introduce you to the basics of mindfulness and get you practising right away.
If you'd like more suggestions, or if you prefer a written introduction to the practice, take a look at the Practising Mindfulness page.
You can also find many YouTube videos and apps with guided mindfulness meditations. Another option is to find a local class or mindfulness practice group - doing this practice is much easier when we have like-minded people around us!