Mindfulness ..... and relax .....

Mindfulness ….

involves acceptance, meaning we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them – without believing, for instance, that there’s a right or wrong way to feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. It has its roots in Buddhist meditation.

Amongst its benefits, mindfulness improves well-being and helps your savour the pleasures in life as they occur, helps you become fully engaged in activities and creates a greater capacity to deal with adverse events. It improves physical health by helping relieve stress and improve sleep. It also improves mental health.

Try this mindfulness exercise!

1. Sit on a straight-backed chair or cross legged on the floor

2. Focus on an aspect of your breathing, such as the sensations of air flowing into your nostrils and out of your mouth, or your tummy rising and falling as you inhale and exhale.

3. Once you’ve narrowed your concentration in this way, begin to widen your focus, become aware of sounds, sensations and your ideas.

4. Embrace and consider each thought or sensation without judging it good or bad.

5. If you mind starts to race, return your focus to your breathing.

6. Then expand your awareness again.

7. Try this for 10 minutes – GO ON, GIVE IT A GO! INVEST IN YOURSELF!

‘The future is always beginning now.’ Mark Stroud

Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all you need, not more.’ Mother Teresa