What is Mindfulness?
You probably hear the term “mindfulness” a lot in the self -help and counseling/therapy world. Some might consider it to be a fru-fru term. Mindfulness is not a new concept or just a fading trend. I has been around a long time. Prayer can be form of mindfulness. Mindfulness can also be shifting out attention to something desirable or relaxing, something that gives us peace and clears our mind of the clutter and distractions that tend to suck up our attention and focus. This clutter has negative impact on our outlook on life, current situations and problems, relationships, our work, and even our play.
An example of mindfulness that I use, when I get frustrated , angry or disappointment with something that happens, I enjoy going for a walk, sometimes taking my dog with me. While I’m walking, I’ll think to myself about the things I am grateful for in my life. On bad days, getting started can be difficult, but I’ll start with, “I’m grateful for being able to take this walk, and enjoy the weather. This leads to finding something else, and another thing. Before long, the things I’m grateful for gets longer and longer. Then I feel better because I used mindfulness to shift my attention and focus to what is good and pleasant in my life, and my troubles seem smaller and less significant.
The idea is that mindfulness exercises really can be almost anything you want them to be. Focusing my attention on building a project out of wood can be mindful.
Mindfulness comes so automatic to a lot of people and they don’t realize its called mindfulness. Hey, life can be really hard. We face struggles everyday. During this COVID-19 pandemic, life has changed for a lot of people with a whole new set of stressors. We have to be able to function and navigate our daily life. Mindfulness can bring you some peace in a time of turmoil when all we want is the old normal back, or at least hope for it.
Take a moment to think about what brings you peace, and feels good. Visualize that, take a moment to make the space around you quiet, and just enjoy the quiet for a little while. Focus on a flower, and study that flower. You will see things you never saw before, realize things you didn’t before, solve problems that have lasted a long time, suddenly remember where you left that prized object you thought you lost. It is truly amazing what your mind is capable of doing, when you can clear the clutter and quiet the troubling thoughts. Give it a try.
