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Mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness has nothing at all to do with clearing our thoughts, as some people mistakenly believe – it is about paying attention to our experiences in the present moment and simply noticing whatever they are, purposefully and non-judgementally.
To begin a practice that will help you find peace and calm for the rest of your lives, have a go at the following:
Start by closing your eyes and sitting comfortably.
- Pay attention to your breathing, noticing the physical sensation of your in-breath and your out-breath. Focus entirely on that.
- As you do this, thoughts will come into your mind, and that’s OK – it’s your mind’s job to get in the way. The important thing is to notice your thoughts, then gently bring your attention back to your breath.
- Keep doing this, for 10 minutes at first, then for longer as you get used to it.
- If you find your mind wandering with thoughts of, “I’m thinking again”, then you have set your standards too high. Instead of wrestling with these thoughts, simply bring your focus back to your breath.
- As long as you keep noticing your thoughts and bringing your mind back to your breath, you are practising mindfulness. As simple as this may sound to do, it isn’t, and therefore requires lots of practice! With consistent effort, on a daily basis to make it a habit, you will find this to be one of the most powerful tools you could ever possess in regaining a level of calm in your life.