Everyday Mindfulness

Wherever you look, in the media, in business, in many walks of life, Mindfulness as a practice is very popular right now. This is hardly surprising. It is one of the easiest ways to reduce stress and improve your sense of well being.

Having practiced meditation and mindful awareness for more than ten years, I have developed ways in which to embody its key concepts in simple, easy to use exercises and activities.

Mindfulness is about ‘now’; being conscious and aware of what is happening, moment by moment and being ok with it. It is about developing perceptual skills for appreciating all that takes place, both within you and in the world around you.

Mindfulness involves cultivating attitudes and simple activities that bring your awareness to the present moment. With practice, it can provide a powerful tool for any kind of self-development. After all, it is in the present moment that all things happen. All decisions, all action, all change takes place in the ‘now’.

Therapists are also realising the power of a Mindful approaching to their work, both for its ability to support them and for the added benefits to their client’s ongoing resilience. As a consequence, increasing numbers of psychologists, psychotherapists, craniosacral therapists and many others are incorporating its principles and exercises into their practice.

Research has shown that, amongst other things, regular practice may help you with:

• Mental Focus
• Clear thinking
• Decision-making
• Feeling in control
• Reducing anxiousness
• Lowering your stress levels
• Increasing feelings of relaxation
• Alleviating symptoms of depression
• Creating and sustaining a greater sense of wellbeing

And realising that small, daily changes can really make a big difference.

“Simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different…”
James Baraz