With thanks to our member, Gynesta Coppin for this article.
In recent years, it seems that as a society, we have become increasingly busy, which in turn brings its own consequences into our daily lives.
We have no time for ourselves, no time for developing relationships with others and we also find it hard to make time for eating, as it’s usually on the go or eaten whilst multitasking or in front of the television or on our phones.
We become stressed and worry about the future, which leads to anxiety and emotional turmoil. Mindfulness is a good way to take time out and reset ourselves and help us to be aware of what’s happening in the present here and now. It’s roots date back to ancient Buddhist heritage, they practiced the art of grasping the present moment without judgement or expectation, which could be very beneficial today.
By practicing Mindfulness, you can experience your own thoughts, feelings and emotions as they are happening, this helps you acknowledge your true self, and heightens your own self-awareness, this can lead you to recognise your emotions ahead of reacting impulsively.
So instead of letting a situation run away with you, you can accept and notice these without judgement, As we are approaching it with a calm disposition, we can make clearer decisions fuelled by clarity and conviction. A good way you can do this is by mindful breathing, taking a few moments out of your day can be extremely rewarding, not only for your body, but for your total wellbeing.
You don’t have to set aside a whole day to this, to start with even a few moments a day is all you need to align yourself with the here and now.
Find a quiet space, away from the hustle and bustle of life and just focus on your breathing, breath in cool fresh air and exhale the hot stress and strains of the day, as you concentrate on the motion of breathing you are learning the process of teaching your mind to remain in the moment.
We can also incorporate Body scan meditation into these exercises, this is done by focusing on different parts of the body, feeling within ourselves tensions, sensations and even pay attention to body temperature and by releasing this physical tension, it lets us become more attuned to the present moment.
Another practice within Mindfulness is mindful eating, sometimes it’s just not possible to take time for long meals and we can bolt down our food on the go. Even if we were to just savour each bite, relish in the sensation of taste, notice the colours, flavours and textures, this simple technique helps us gain a greater understanding of our sense of awareness, which can bring more enjoyment to the simple task of eating and can regulate emotions around food, by engaging in this we slow down and once again we become present.
By being more aware of ourselves, emotions and your environment this can also have a positive effect on relationships. This can be achieved by nurturing non- Judgemental awareness, this helps us become more accustomed to the emotional needs of others, increasing empathy and reinforce deeper connections.
With regular practise this can become a natural part of daily life which can help synchronise your emotions to deal with situations more successfully and assists us to manage stress, anxiety and stop the cycle of worrying. By taking some time out of our busy day mindfulness practices can support us in dealing with the pressures of today’s life.