Mindfulness

Mindfulness is:

Mindfulness is about being fully aware of whatever is happening in the present moment, without filters or judgement. It's about seeing the world with greater clarity so that you can take wiser and more considered action to change the things which need to be changed. It is the difference between reacting and responding.

Mindfulness helps us move towards being more compassionate, inquisitive and less judgmental.

Mindfulness is simple, yet, like learning anything new, can take some practice. A simple meditation practice may involve a soft focus on the breath, sensations, sounds, or thoughts and emotions. It can also include bringing mindful awareness to daily activities, such as eating, exercising, or doing chores, wherever you are. Therefore, it can be easier to fit into a busy schedule.

It is not about trying to make your mind go blank! A practice will generally involve bringing our awareness to one focus, e.g., the breath, sensations, or sounds. We aim at noticing when we are pulled into our thoughts and then guiding our awareness back to our sensations/breath/sounds when we notice our attention has drifted.

Benefits of Mindfulness

Below are some of the benefits that have been shown to result from mindfulness practice.

• stress reduction

• nervous system regulation

• improved ability to be with difficult emotions

• clarity and focus

• greater resilience

• improved relationships

• improved concentration