Understanding Mindfulness

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Understanding Mindfulness
Mindfulness is about paying close attention to what's happening around you in the present moment. It's simply described as a moment by moment awareness of your mind and body. It's about having a non-judgmental awareness of your environment, thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations. Mindfulness may not remove life's challenges, but it can help you discover how to act in a much calmer way.
Mindfulness allows you to step away from your automatic thoughts and concerns. It's a method that cultivates clarity and understanding. It allows you to see things clearly, so you can make wiser choices.
Being mindful is about observing your thoughts and emotions without judgment. It allows you to accept things as it comes, and become more appreciative of them. It helps increase your sense of awareness, which allows you to live in the present moment. This can be an excellent way of helping you enjoy living your life more in the present.

Ways to Practice Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness is a simple form of meditation that has recently become popular in the Western world. This can be a great tool to help you enhance your focus. It also helps you accomplish an increased sense of self-awareness.
If you're new to the idea of mindfulness meditation, it can be a good idea to start by practicing a basic mindfulness meditation exercise.
Find a comfortable position that allows you to breathe well, and find a balance between being relaxed and being fully awake at the same time. You can choose to keep your eyes closed or open during the practice. Some people say that keeping their eyes closed makes them feel tired, while others claim that having their eyes open makes them easily distracted.
Take deep breaths and allow your mind and body to relax. Focus your awareness on your breath. When you feel relaxed, simply notice your thoughts and emotions without judging them as right or wrong. Allow these thoughts to pass by, and direct your awareness back to your breath. With regular practice, it'll be easier for you to get your mind focused and experience some peaceful life experiences.

Simple Ways to Bring Mindfulness into Your Day
There are lots of easy ways to practice mindfulness. It can be a good idea to bring mindfulness into your daily activities. Understand that without being mindful, you're more likely to get on with your day in an autopilot mode.
As you start your day, take a moment to look at the sky and everything else in your surroundings. Instead of dashing off to work, spend a few minutes to simply notice how you feel. Be conscious of the warmth of the sun, or the cold air against your face. Notice how your surroundings really look like. Observe the different shapes and colors of the things around you. By doing this, you'll get to spend some time to simply appreciate what's in the 'here and now'.
It's a good idea to practice mindfulness several times a day, even for just a few minutes each time. It could be while you're walking or when you're having your breakfast. As you walk, be mindful of the whole experiencing of walking. Simply focus and notice how it feels without worrying about what you're experiencing. Understand that being mindful allows you to simply enjoy and live your life in the present.