What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is about paying attention and becoming aware of the present moment - how you're experiencing it; what is happening; what you see or hear; what you feel and what you think. Doing so on-purpose, in a non-judging way.
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Practically, it is when you realize you are day-dreaming, or thinking about something that happened yesterday, or like me, planning how things will go tomorrow, and mentally bringing yourself back to the now. The present moment.
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This capability to re-focus and become aware of the present moment is an innate capability everyone has. It is cultivated through the practice of continually mentally to returning to now and noticing what you are thinking and sensing through all of your senses. Think about it like exercising a muscle - the more you use the awareness and refocus muscle, the stronger it gets and the less you have to work at being aware - it becomes almost automatic once you notice you are in another 'time-zone' or place.
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More on Mindfulness
Why do Mindfulness Practices?
Mindfulness practices help create a separation between a stimulus (something happening in your life/day..etc.) and the response you have. Typically, when something happens, our brains and bodies are on auto-pilot and we have an immediate reaction. If you're able to create space between an event happening and your response, the response is no longer automatic. You are no longer simply reacting, you have the freedom to choose your response. An important part of becoming aware is to be kind to yourself in whatever you notice or become aware of - don't be critical or judgmental.
What is Mindfulness Meditation?
Mindfulness meditation is where you sit or lay down and close or lower your eyes in a relaxed manner, or walk, with your focus is entirely on what you notice while you are sitting, or laying down, or walking. You may observe sensations you are feeling, or you may become aware of emotions that are arising, or sounds as you hear them or even your breathing. If you are walking or doing any other activity, you can observe what you are seeing, smelling or hearing. The point of this meditation is to practice noticing and observing. When you notice that thoughts arise (and they will, this is completely natural! It is what our brains do.) you just notice them and return to what you were focusing on. A great analogy for this is like watching clouds - when a thought arises, notice them like you would see clouds in the sky - just watching them go by and return to what you were focusing on noticing.
Benefits of Mindfulness
The benefits of mindfulness include mental, physical, emotional and relationship improvements. Mindfulness has been found scientifically to boost working memory and improve attention and focus. From a physical perspective, it can ease headaches and reduce body pain and improve the quality of sleep. Emotionally it has been found to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and reduces rumination. It also has been found to reduce stress and increase resilience. It helps us step out of 'autopilot' mode and live more fulfilling lives.