5 ways to live
mindfully (according
to a meditation
teacher)
Read the article about mindfulness
Slow down, tune-in, and create a more mindful life with these starting points
Living mindfully isn’t always easy, especially in this fast-paced world where we can feel like
we are always switched on. But, there are techniques we can use to help us relax and be
more present in our lives.
As a mindfulness meditation teacher, I help people become aware of their internal world
(their thoughts, and emotions), and their external world (what is going on around them).
While there is no quick fix to mindful living – it’s a state of awareness that takes time and
practice – there are habits you can add to your daily routine to help you live more mindfully. From
meditation to gratitude, here are my top five tips for building a life rooted in mindfulness.
Create a meditation practice
For many people, mindful living starts with meditation as it teaches us
to become aware of what’s going on in our mind and body, and in the world
around us. If you make meditation part of your everyday life, not only will you feel
calmer, but it will also encourage you to live in the here and now.
An easy way to build a meditation practice is to embrace the method of habit
stacking. Make a cup of tea every morning? Try meditating while you wait for the
kettle to boil. Commute to work via train every day? Take this time to practise
breathwork. This might sound small, but it can have a big impact on your
wellbeing, and set you up for the day.
Go for a mindful walk
While meditation is a gateway to mindfulness, it’s not the only way to be more
present in your day. If a focused meditation practice feels inaccessible for you
right now, try going for a mindful walk instead. As you walk, tune-in to your
senses one by one. Think about what you can hear, see, smell, feel, and taste. It
could be the feeling of the sun on your skin, or the sounds of dogs playing
nearby. Leave your headphones at home so you can really be present in the
moment. When you unplug, you might even start to see your local area in a
whole new light.
Embrace gratitude
In recent years, research has shown us just how powerful a gratitude practice can
be. One study, published in Psychotherapy Research, found that those who wrote gratitude
letters to other people in their lives over the course of three weeks were happier in the weeks
following than those who didn’t pen letters. What’s more, people who practise gratitude also
sleep better! Yes, that’s right. Another study, published in the Journal of Psychosomatic
Research, found that sleep quality was related to what was on our minds, and when we’re in
a state of gratitude, and embracing the positives in life, we are more likely to fall asleep
faster, sleep for longer, and have better quality sleep.
So, why not try practising gratitude by thinking or writing down three things or three people
you are grateful for each day? It could do wonders for your wellbeing, and help you live more
mindfully.
Practise awareness
Leading mindfulness practitioner Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as an
“awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment,
and non-judgmentally”. This is what the practice is all about. Training ourselves to
consciously become aware of our experiences, and accepting them without judgement.
Of course, life can be difficult at times, and sometimes challenges come our way, but
by living mindfully we can learn to observe those experiences, accept them for what
they are, and then act upon them with resilience, rather than reacting impulsively.
So, next time you are faced with a difficult situation or a challenge in your life, see if
you can turn inward. Ask yourself: How am I feeling right now? What has made me feel
this way? How is my body reacting to this challenge? Am I tense?
Check-in with yourself
Now we know that mindfulness is a state of awareness that comes from
taking small steps that make a big difference, try to embrace mindfulness
techniques in everything you do. Make bringing yourself into the present
moment a part of your everyday life. It could be as simple as every time you
get an email, taking three deep breaths before you open it. It could be
checking in with how you are feeling today by doing a quick body scan on
your morning train commute. Or, it could be practising mindful eating during
lunch, eating slowly, listening to your hunger cues, and knowing when you
need to fuel your body. Your journey starts now.
Let’s see how well u understood the ideas)
Say if these statements are True/False according to the article
1 .Mindful living is easy to achieve in today's fast-paced world.
2. Meditation is the only way to practice mindfulness.
3. Building a meditation practice can help you feel calmer and more present.
4. Mindful walking is an alternative to meditation for practicing mindfulness.
5. Practicing gratitude can improve sleep quality.
6. Practicing awareness means accepting difficult experiences without judgment.
7. Mindful living requires reacting impulsively to challenges.
Let’s see how well u understood the ideas)
Answers
1.False - - Mindful living is not easy to achieve in today's fast-paced world.
2. False - - Meditation is one way to practice mindfulness, but it's not the only way.
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. True
7. False - - Mindful living requires acting upon challenges with resilience, not reacting
impulsively.
Thanks for using
Subscribe to
https://t.me/englishspotua
