Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention on purpose
Mindfulness has two elements
1) Awareness of all the information coming in through your senses
What you can see, smell, hear, taste and feel, as well as noticing what's going on inside you—your thoughts, emotions and body sensations— moment-to-moment.
2) Observing this information as it comes up
When we watch in this way, we’re less likely to mechanically repeat all our old habitual ways of thinking and living.
We notice what we're drawn to (what we want/don't want), giving us a more focused direction to make informed decisions.
We also notice that some of our thoughts aren't supporting our well-being (negative self-talk/fears).
How Can Mindfulness Help Me?
Mindfulness gives you a new understanding of life, opening doors to freedom.
Being mindful enables you to notice more—and to experience more fully.
As well as improving focus, it helps you to understand what's been holding you back from a more content life.
It reduces fixation on negative emotions and impulsive (knee-jerk) emotional patterns of reaction.
Your relationship to yourself and others improve.
Our minds are hard-wired to the negative— a redundant survival instinct. When we practice mindfulness, it changes the normal pattern of critical thought— bringing balance and the possibility to notice and enjoy what we encounter without self-made restrictions.
Let's imagine two friends, both leaving for work at the same time each morning.
One walks away from the house, their thoughts tied up with the day's TO DO list.
Walking to their bike/car/bus/train they notice nothing around them.
The other walks away from the house, making a conscious decision to notice.
A stream of sunlight, leaves unfurling in spring after a long barren winter, the laughter of children, the flight and song of birds, the whistle of a fellow cyclist, the feel of the breeze on their skin, the way the rain bounces off the pavement, the shapes of the clouds, the smile of a stranger, the aroma emerging from a baker's shop.
This person:
Research shows that 47% of people are on autopilot most of the time, not really present in our own lives.
1) Awareness of all the information coming in through your senses
What you can see, smell, hear, taste and feel, as well as noticing what's going on inside you—your thoughts, emotions and body sensations— moment-to-moment.
2) Observing this information as it comes up
When we watch in this way, we’re less likely to mechanically repeat all our old habitual ways of thinking and living.
We notice what we're drawn to (what we want/don't want), giving us a more focused direction to make informed decisions.
We also notice that some of our thoughts aren't supporting our well-being (negative self-talk/fears).
How Can Mindfulness Help Me?
Mindfulness gives you a new understanding of life, opening doors to freedom.
Being mindful enables you to notice more—and to experience more fully.
As well as improving focus, it helps you to understand what's been holding you back from a more content life.
It reduces fixation on negative emotions and impulsive (knee-jerk) emotional patterns of reaction.
Your relationship to yourself and others improve.
Our minds are hard-wired to the negative— a redundant survival instinct. When we practice mindfulness, it changes the normal pattern of critical thought— bringing balance and the possibility to notice and enjoy what we encounter without self-made restrictions.
Let's imagine two friends, both leaving for work at the same time each morning.
One walks away from the house, their thoughts tied up with the day's TO DO list.
Walking to their bike/car/bus/train they notice nothing around them.
The other walks away from the house, making a conscious decision to notice.
A stream of sunlight, leaves unfurling in spring after a long barren winter, the laughter of children, the flight and song of birds, the whistle of a fellow cyclist, the feel of the breeze on their skin, the way the rain bounces off the pavement, the shapes of the clouds, the smile of a stranger, the aroma emerging from a baker's shop.
This person:
- is more likely to feel a greater connection to their environment, to be inspired and have little moments of joy—that the other neighbour remains oblivious to
- becomes more adept at recognising their preferences and taking action towards them, as well as clearly seeing their reactions to fears, having the insight to overcome them
Research shows that 47% of people are on autopilot most of the time, not really present in our own lives.
Mindfulness is something you can do anywhere
The first step is always awareness
In Daily Life
1. As you go about your daily life— be aware (mindful) of all the information pouring in from your senses. When your mind wanders to the past or future, gently bring it back to what you're experiencing in the moment.
The practice of being mindful to the actions you perform can help so much in the reduction of anxiety— as much of what you’re worrying about isn’t actually happening right now.
2. Remain curious and notice what kind of thoughts come up (your patterns or tendencies to think in a certain way) how you label yourself, others and your experiences. "This is right/wrong" etc. This is judging— or 'attachment'.
Noticing what these patterns are based on. What causes your automatic thoughts. (Personal perception due to personal experience).
While you're observing, listening, tasting, smelling, touching. As you shower, dress, eat, drink, pick up objects, work, communicate, walk down the street, hug a loved one. Not judging (being attached to) what you see, hear etc., just being aware of it. If you do judge, just be aware of these judgement thoughts, and the mood or emotions they trigger— and try not to judge all that! It's difficult at first to separate awareness and inner dialogue!
When you do this, all your thoughts are focused on what you’re doing right now, grounding you in presence— and you'll have a fuller experience of life without being swept away on autopilot.
Sitting Mindfulness Meditation
This is one kind of open monitoring meditation, where we practice the awareness of our thoughts and feelings without judgement/attachment.
When we practice Mindfulness Meditation we begin to understand how our thoughts change our emotions, so that we become much more balanced.
Because our brains form new habits through repetition— you can learn mindfulness easily and quickly if you focus on it thoroughly for a few days.
Vipassana Meditation Retreats are donation based and consist of 10 days of silence. During this time you can quickly learn mindfulness meditation without the complication of every-day distractions.
1. As you go about your daily life— be aware (mindful) of all the information pouring in from your senses. When your mind wanders to the past or future, gently bring it back to what you're experiencing in the moment.
The practice of being mindful to the actions you perform can help so much in the reduction of anxiety— as much of what you’re worrying about isn’t actually happening right now.
2. Remain curious and notice what kind of thoughts come up (your patterns or tendencies to think in a certain way) how you label yourself, others and your experiences. "This is right/wrong" etc. This is judging— or 'attachment'.
Noticing what these patterns are based on. What causes your automatic thoughts. (Personal perception due to personal experience).
While you're observing, listening, tasting, smelling, touching. As you shower, dress, eat, drink, pick up objects, work, communicate, walk down the street, hug a loved one. Not judging (being attached to) what you see, hear etc., just being aware of it. If you do judge, just be aware of these judgement thoughts, and the mood or emotions they trigger— and try not to judge all that! It's difficult at first to separate awareness and inner dialogue!
When you do this, all your thoughts are focused on what you’re doing right now, grounding you in presence— and you'll have a fuller experience of life without being swept away on autopilot.
Sitting Mindfulness Meditation
This is one kind of open monitoring meditation, where we practice the awareness of our thoughts and feelings without judgement/attachment.
When we practice Mindfulness Meditation we begin to understand how our thoughts change our emotions, so that we become much more balanced.
Because our brains form new habits through repetition— you can learn mindfulness easily and quickly if you focus on it thoroughly for a few days.
Vipassana Meditation Retreats are donation based and consist of 10 days of silence. During this time you can quickly learn mindfulness meditation without the complication of every-day distractions.
