Mindfulness is a practice of mentioning what is happening in your mentality and then making changes according to what thoughts would be most beneficial.
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 a comprehensive practice to help people achieve happiness in the present moment. Being present in the moment that is currently happening allows us to recognize the positive incidents and process anything that may be an issue or can cause problems down the road.
Various mindfulness techniques are easy and accessible to new practitioners of mindfulness. Try implementing some of the techniques below and see how quickly you can grasp your thoughts and shift them to an uplifting mindset.
1. Breathe. Focusing on the breath is a practical way to calm the mind and provide a calm environment where the mind can slow down and allow for curiosity and creativity. Breathing regulates the nervous system, calms the mind and the body, and brings fresh oxygen to our brain, allowing new thoughts to emerge.
2. Light A Candle. Lighting a candle is an effective 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 of being 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. Drink Tea. One way to bring mindfulness to the moment is to drink tea with a calm and peaceful serenity. Drinking hot tea triggers us to take deep breaths and take breaks between sips to allow spaciousness in 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 to bring calm and presence at the moment.
4. Write A Gratitude List. Making a list of gratitude is an excellent practice of mindfulness. Each morning, evening, or whenever you can 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 thankful for, or commit to writing down three items from the day you are grateful for. Bringing gratitude into the mind is an excellent practice of mindfulness and can lead to greater positive feelings and recognition of positive experiences.
5. Listen To Meditation. A practice of mindfulness that can be implemented anywhere is an audible or listening meditation. 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.
These five practices are simple options for bringing a conscious experience into your life. And can be a transformative practice to set aside the time for yourself, your mental health, and mindfulness practice.
Breathing and listening to meditation for mindfulness practice can be done anywhere and anytime. Lighting a candle is a great practice to engage in the evenings before bed, while 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 training and patience.