Mindfulness – An Introduction

What is mindfulness?  According to Mindful.org, mindfulness is the basic ability to be fully present and not overly reactive or overwhelmed.  Mindfulness is a simple and powerful tool for self-improvement.  We can improve our ability to be aware and fully present through practice.  There is growing research that shows that when we practice mindfulness we can actually change the physical structure of our brains.

Mindful Meditation

One important part of mindfulness is mindful meditation.  Meditation is not about the absence of thought, but rather it is about being fully present.  It is about realizing the power of our minds to recognize thoughts, self-talk and sensations without reacting negatively to them.  In practicing mindful meditation, we learn to observe and be aware of physical feelings, emotions, and thoughts without judgment.  In meditation we focus on the breath while being fully present in the moment.

How to start?

If you are new to mindfulness and mindful meditation, visit the Mindful.org website for some great information and links to resources and guided meditations.  If you are just beginning meditation, you can start with a body scan meditation.  A body scan meditation helps you to become aware of your body in space and to be in tune with your breathing.  Another basic guided meditation is the Ten MInute Guided Breathing Meditation.  This meditation is quick and easy to try to get you familiar with how to take just a few minutes to be more mindful.  Ten Percent Happier and Calm are also great resources that you can access online or via apps.

Like most things, adding mindfulness to your life is a process.  Keep it simple by exploring some of the resources suggested here.  Mindfulness is something that our bodies and minds can already do.  Through practice we learn how to use mindful practices to improve our physical, emotional and mental health.