A Moment of Mindfulness
It’s been the buzzword of the wellbeing world for some time now, yet still so many of us struggle to understand or execute the practice of mindfulness.
Racing out of my Berlin apartment this morning I have my coffee cup in one hand, an overflowing bag slung over my strained shoulder, and I’m wrangling a bag of rubbish down six flights of stairs to the communal bin. I raced off to work while making a scatological list of ‘to-dos’ in my head… and this was a calm morning! Despite the cute assimilation to Andy Sachs, this frenzied and exhausting lifestyle is damaging to our wellbeing, yet has somehow become the cultural norm. It’s time to gain back some peace and appreciate a slower, more focused mind.
Mindfulness is one’s ability to absorb the present and accept our current emotions and thoughts, without triggering tension or engaging in distraction. Unfortunately, the busier our lives become, the less importance we place on being present. Savouring small moments helps us connect to ourselves and the world around us, and while it sounds luxurious, mindfulness is the key to achieving our greatest potential. The practise of mindfulness has been shown scientifically to boost mood and productivity, as well as being linked to a more positive and resilient attitude. Furthermore, eating in a slower and more conscious way allows us to appreciate our food and tune in to our body’s feeling of fullness. So we could be walking around feeling calmer, achieving more, and basking in ‘the simple life?’ Sign us up!
“A wandering mind is an unhappy mind.”
Read
Hugh van Cuylenburg, mindfulness guru to millions, has gripped sold-out crowds with his inspiring presentations. His first book, titled The Resilience Project: Finding Happiness Through Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness, is sure to inspire you on your mindfulness journey.
Sip
I’ve heard the perfect moment of mindfulness encapsulated by the first sip of your morning coffee. I love the simplicity of building a moment of appreciation and awareness into an existing routine. We should probably add a side of cake to this one too…
Create
For those who simply can’t fathom being so still, try a mindful colouring book for a chic twist on the experience. Pastel palettes and Parisian outlines? Guaranteed to bring you a moment of joy (though we suspect you’ll be at it for hours!)
Pause
Take a moment in your day just to tune into yourself, by focusing on nothing but your slow, heavy breathing. If a worry or a task pops into your mind, simply acknowledge it and let it pass from your thoughts. Consider the feeling of your clothes against your skin, the sounds in the distance, or the weight of your head on your neck. If only for a minute, this may be the best thing you do for yourself all day.
If it doesn’t rock your world right away, stick with it! Mindfulness is called a practice because there is no ultimate model of perfection. How refreshing! We can continue to work on and discover how to still our own very wonderful, very unique mind.
Originally published for artil magazine.
