Mindful Awareness - it's easier to obtain than you think!!

[Jean Thomas]

Stop whatever you're doing right now and take 15 minutes to play close attention to your surroundings. Take in the sounds that you hear and the sites that you see. Breathe in slowly and let every other thought in your head come and go. Be completely present in this moment.


Congratulstions, you've just done mindfulness awareness. Buddha would be proud!

 

[NormaD]

Thank you for that. Too many of us are running through life and never taking a break just to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. If more of us did that we would all experience so much less stress and anxiety in our lives.

 

[gracer]

Oh how I wish I could someday reach the kind of enlightenment and peacefulness that Buddha had but I know it's very far from reality for me. I have heard a lot of positive things about meditation though that can really help in people suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.

 

[Sue]

It is so important to pause for a moment and enjoy the simple things in life. I enjoy going hiking and just sitting for a moment and listening to the sounds of nature, the birds singing, the squirrels rushing about, etc. I also like sitting on the beach and listening to the waves slap the shoreline, the children playing, the many wonderful sounds are comforting to me. I have learned over the years how to relax and take time for myself. It does the mind and body good.

 

[It'sJaz]

That's something like what I do to calm down when I'm feeling too stressed. Drinking something calming while doing it helps as well, I usually drink tea while focusing on breathing in and out. It helps a lot more than it seems. At least that's what it's been like for me.

 

[rz3300]

Well that was easy, and you are right, if we take the time and notice and appreciate our surroundings, the more we can achieve this. That said, though, it is certainly a task to keep it up and to do this at all times and in all places, so it is a matter of personal fortitude and self discipline to think that way more often. Again, it is easier said than done, and I think that we are all a testament to that given the issues that we deal with on a daily basis.

 

[redpanda]

I try to do this every day during lunchtime. Admittedly, I can't get myself to relax for a full 15 minutes. I usually do mindfulness/awareness exercises for about 5 minutes and then I spend some time with my plants. I try to schedule my time so that I can get gardening tasks done at this time. I find gardening relaxing so I like combining it with mindfulness exercises . I'm still learning but I'm doing my best,

 

[Pandora]

I have tried going to a restroom and breathing in and out slowly when I feel like my stress level is getting to high. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I think it depends on how quickly I can catch my stress. However, I like your method Jean Thomas. It's really easy to do and you can do this method anywhere you may be. Thank you for sharing!

 

[MissTea]

That is a very good suggestion. We all could do with a little more relaxation in our lives and it helps when we take the time to appreciate all the beautiful things and people and places that surround us. Sometimes something as simple as doing a few simple deep breathing exercises is enough to change your whole attitude and help make your entire day go better.

 

[janemariesayed]

The first time I meditated, or kind of meditated I closed my eyes and did the breathing exercises. I read that it was the first exercise to try to teach yourself meditation. They said just to focus on the breathing and not to worry about thoughts at this point. So I tried it. I breathed in for the count of four, held my breath for the count of four and then breathed out slowly for the count of four.

After forty five minutes I was interrupted by my ex Hubby calling me. I answered the phone and burst out into a fit of giggles that I just couldn[t stop. I couldn't stop laughing and he told me I was mad.