Meditate and be mindful

Meditation

It can be difficult to get started. I struggled for a long time, as I just didn’t know what I had to do. I thought I needed to do something or make something happen. I then came across the perfect introduction, and it wasn’t where I expected to find it.

In his book, The Productivity Project the author Chris Bailey made it easy for me. He simply explained that he sets a timer, for 10 or 20 mins, sits down, closes his eyes and focuses on his breaths. When his mind inevitably starts to wander, he gently brings it back to what he’s doing.

So let’s try that now.

Whenever I take people through this process, I see positive results. I see what happens when people take a short break from all the noise. They often comment that they wish they’d found something like this sooner.

Before I came across Chris Bailey’s introduction, I was lost as well. It’s such a huge subject with so many options. It can be a clinical practice, often recommended by professionals, and there are of course spiritual and religious uses. I think it’s safe to say there’s a lot to it and it can be easy to get put off or be lead down the wrong path.

This why I encourage people to start with the basics I’ve described. You can then let it lead you to where you want to be. Just making what I’ve described a daily practice should really make a difference.

If you need some encouragement, just take a look at this.

Mindfulness

I like to think of mindfulness as a separate part of my wellbeing toolkit. It’s where we take the amazing feeling of being focused and in the moment and take it out into the world. We move from that practice of sitting down with our eyes closed to being out there in the world, where it helps to have your eyes open.

Let’s try some mindful exercises.

So now you’ve experienced what it’s like to be in the moment, we can take it further. We can go out on mindful walks.

Just head out and put all your attention into the present moment. Notice things. Look at what’s happening around you and listen to all the sounds you shut out when you were on autopilot. Just be where you are.

If you can, walk a curvy and unpredictable path. Better still, you could use your phone to engage in some mindful photography. Just capture the things on film that get your attention. You can even use them as part of your practice at home. Really study them and use them as an anchor to the present moment.

So we’ve relaxed. We feel good and we’re at ease. Then life happens, we go to work and it all unfolds. Here’s how mindfulness can make a difference.

So, you now have a helpful daily practice that will help you feel better. You can also draw on these ideas to help you cope in the present moment. They can help you move beyond a life spent on autopilot and really appreciate things. You can change your perspective and stop thoughts spiralling out of control.

We can also take it further…