The benefits of mindfulness are well documented – live your life in the present moment and attain happiness – but how do you apply it to everyday life? The Practical Mindfulness Book shows you how.
The benefits of mindfulness are well documented–live your life in the present moment and attain happiness–but how do you apply it to everyday life? The Practical Mindfulness Book shows you how. You’ll explore your current ways of thinking and challenge unhelpful thought patterns; learn how to fit step-by-step meditations into your day-to-day life, putting you on the path to the present; and carry out targeted exercises to apply mindfulness when you really need it.…
Mindfulness can be described in many ways. It is a practice of purposefully paying attention in the present moment and bringing a non-judgemental, compassionate awareness to the nature of things. It is a way of being, a way of relating to our inner and outer experiences, and a coming to our senses, literally and figuratively. At the same time, it is nothing at all, nothing but a rediscovery or a remembering of our natural, inborn capacity to be fully awake in our lives, in contact with things in a direct way without the filters of concepts, past experiences, or likes and dislikes. This way of seeing is immediately available to all of us at any moment. Try it now if you like. After reading this paragraph, let your eyes move…
Mindfulness changes your sense of who you are in relation to your own life and to other people. The idea of mindfulness is very simple: you pay close attention to an experience in the present moment, while allowing yourself to be openhearted and “spacious”. This last word needs a little explanation. Our pure state of mind is spacious, but over time, as we accumulate life experiences, certain habits of thinking form and solidify. Mindfulness meditation, practised over a period of at least a few weeks, can break down these inner structures and return us to our original openness. That’s why mindfulness practice has been proven effective as an antidote to all kinds of negative mindsets, including poor self-esteem, high anxiety, low levels of vitality and engagement, and mild to moderate…
MINDFULNESS IS ▪ recognizing feelings without becoming caught up in them ▪ identifying yourself as who you truly are–and not identifying yourself with your feelings or mistakes ▪ living more in the moment and less in the past and future ▪ a way to cultivate happiness that’s suitable for all. MINDFULNESS IS NOT ▪ empyting the mind or stopping thinking ▪ a relaxation technique, though it will make you more relaxed as a by-product ▪ an escape from personality–it reveals to us our personality ▪ a charter for living life without planning–you can plan in a mindful way, just as you can learn mindfully from the past.…
“Practice” is an essential word in mindfulness, and in any form of meditation or mental training. It implies repetition (as well as a way of being), and that’s apt, since you can only change your mindset by doing an exercise regularly, perhaps daily. However, this initial practice, below, has a more limited aim: it is a basic introduction to what mindfulness involves. If any thoughts or emotions come into your mind while doing it, be aware of them but don’t dwell on them: return to your focus and let them pass away. 1 Sit down at a table with a small object in front of you–a cup, mug or glass, or a salt or pepper pot will do. 2 Look closely at the object for a few minutes, taking in…
The pioneer of modern mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn, wrote rather disarmingly that you don’t have to like mindfulness practice, you just have to do it. He knew that some people found mindfulness a chore, but he was also very aware of its tangible benefits. His early work is now supported by numerous scientific studies which show that mindfulness practice enhances mental and physical wellbeing. Research highlights its success in reducing stress and anxiety, attributing this to a reduction in levels of cortisol–sometimes called the “stress hormone”–in the body. And since stress tends to undermine the effectiveness of the body’s natural immune system, mindfulness can also be linked with improved immunity. The health benefits of mindfulness are undeniable, and range from stress and pain relief and improved sleep patterns to a greater…
