PAUSE for three mindful breaths
image by M. Lee Freedman
“What does it mean to be mindful? Essentially, mindfulness means to be present, and in the moment. It is important that we remind ourselves of this simple fact. All too often we can lose the true essence of mindfulness by over-complicating things or putting all our emphasis on the act of meditation alone. Mindfulness is not something we leave at the chair, but something we can carry through our everyday lives.
If we can apply mindfulness on the chair, then why not while brushing our teeth, catching up with an old friend, or even waiting for our morning train? All these moments present an opportunity for us to apply mindfulness, and live our lives more fully, in the present moment.
According to recent research, we spend up to 50 percent of our time caught up in our thoughts; a proven contributing factor to our unhappiness. Instead of drifting through our lives in a daze, consumed by thoughts of what could have been or planning those things which our out of our control in the first place, mindfulness allows us to engage with the here and now and approach our lives with greater clarity and peace of mind.
It is often in the more repetitive, day-to-day activities that we find ourselves switching into auto-pilot. So why not embrace these moments and see them as an opportunity to be more mindful? In this piece the mindfulness experts at Headspace provide their tips on how best to incorporate mindfulness into our daily lives. Remember not to worry about trying to clear the mind of any thoughts or feelings. Instead, try and see yourself taking a back seat; witnessing the thoughts and emotions as they come and go. If you find yourself getting distracted simply bring your attention back to the physical senses and focus your attention back on the activity itself.” -
excerpt from post/infographic 5 Ways to Bring Mindfulness into Everyday Life
To view the infographic describing 5 ways to bring mindfulness into everyday life, please follow this link:
Wishing you many moments of remembering
to return to the present moment today
Lee
M. Lee Freedman, MD,CM, FRCP(C)
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