According to Mindful.org, “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”
Mindfulness is an amazing practice to help people achieve happiness in the present moment.
Being present in the moment that is happening allows us to recognize the positive that is happening and also process in real time anything that may be an issue or that could cause problems down the road.
There are various mindfulness techniques that are easy and accessible to new practitioners of mindfulness. Try implementing some of the techniques below and see how quickly you can get a grasp of your thoughts and shift them to an uplifting mindset.
1. Breathe.
One way to practice mindfulness is easily accessible at any time- breathing. Focusing on the breath is a great way to calm the mind and provide a calm environment in which the mind can slow down and allow for curiosity and creativity. Breathing deeply calms the mind and the body and brings fresh oxygen to our brain which can allow new thoughts to emerge. Breathing brings the body to calmness and regulates the nervous system.
2. Lighting a Candle.
Lighting a candle is a great way to practice mindfulness and meditation if you take the time to sit with it and watch it. Fire is one of the most fundamental aspects of nature. It reminds us that we are strong and powerful and also peaceful and ever-changing. You can light a candle and sit calmly in front of it and enjoy its presence. Watching a flame flicker can be incredibly calming.
3. Drinking Tea.
One way to bring mindfulness to the moment is to drink tea with a calm and peaceful quietude. When we drink tea, we can also take deep breaths and take breaks in between sips to allow for spaciousness in the mind. Many masters throughout history have engaged in drinking tea as a spiritual practice. Whether your mindfulness practice is spiritual or not, this is a great practice to invoke calm and presence in the moment.
4. Write a Gratitude List.
Making a gratitude list is an amazing practice of mindfulness. Each morning, evening, or whenever you are able to make time throughout the day, sit with a pen and paper and write a list of things you are grateful for. Maybe you set a timer for 3 minutes to write about what you are grateful for, or commit to writing down 3 things from the day that you are grateful for. Bringing gratitude into the mind is a great mindfulness practice and can lead to a greater number of positive feelings and recognition of positive experiences.
5. Listening Meditation.
A practice of mindfulness that can be used anywhere is listening mediation. Wherever you are, you can take a moment to listen to the sounds around you and recognize where you are and what your sense of hearing is experiencing. If you are blessed with the ability to hear, listening mindfulness is a practice that can be transformative for attention to the present moment. Prerecorded nature sounds work just as well as your actual environment.
It can be a transformative practice to set aside time for yourself and your mental health and mindfulness practice. These five practices are simple options for bringing a mindful experience into your day.
Breath and listening mindfulness practices can be done anywhere and anytime. Lighting a candle is a great practice to engage in the evenings before bed. Alternately, drinking tea with mindfulness can be a lovely and quiet morning practice. Practicing mindfulness each day and in each moment can bring mental clarity and peace of mind with continued practice and patience.
