When you’re frustrated while sitting in traffic, feeling upset about all the things you should have said during an argument, or body-shaming yourself while working out in the gym…these are the moments when mindfulness can be a lifesaver!
While many of us might think that mindfulness means sitting in a yoga pose, listening to sound bowls and finding your inner ohm, it is actually a mind-calming technique you can use anywhere at any time.
What is mindfulness?
US professor emeritus of medicine and mindfulness expert has defined mindfulness as: “the awareness that arises through paying attention in the present moment, on purpose and non-judgmentally”.
It could be achieved by simply paying attention to the feeling of your feet on the floor. It’s about accepting your reality, rather than spending all your energy on wishing for a different life, which will lead to greater self-compassion and understanding. Being aware of your thoughts and emotions and actively paying attention to them is the key to mindfulness.
Don’t go down the rabbit hole
Most of us are not aware of how many of our thoughts are self-critical and even self-destructive, until you start paying attention to them. While you are at the gym, for example, you might be spending a lot of energy and time comparing your body to other people around you. Or you might be at home thinking about what you should have said or should have done during the day. Mindfulness can help prevent you from going down the rabbit hole of self-criticism, by instead focusing on what you are currently experiencing, for example, how your muscles stretch and contract while you are exercising.
How to introduce mini-mindfulness into your day
Start with the basics…while you are brushing your teeth, instead of stressing about what you need to do in the day, focus on the feeling of the bristles on your teeth and the taste of the toothpaste. Try to build these mini-mindfulness moments into your day to start getting into the habits of focusing on being more present and immersing yourself in the now.
While there are numerous apps and other resources to help you develop mindfulness on your own, it can be difficult to implement on your own, so the input of a community or a teacher is recommended. For more information about the mindfulness course, visit the Cape Mindfulness Institute.
