Mindfulness Series Part 1: Mindfulness Is More Than Meditation

“Mindfulness is deliberately paying full attention to what is happening around you– in your body, heart, and mind. Mindfulness is awareness without criticism or judgment.” - Jan Chozen Bays.

Take a second to think about the word “mindfulness.” If you are envisioning someone sitting on the ground, eyes closed, palms facing upwards, devoting time to silence and introspection, you aren’t far off from the public perception 🧘.

This is what we typically envision when we think of a "mindfulness" practice. But there's more to it than sitting in silence!

What if I told you that what I described is actually just meditation, and not the all-encompassing practice of mindfulness? As much as meditation is a form of mindfulness, there are an infinite number of ways to be mindful in your everyday life, some of which you might already be doing! 

Being mindful means awareness in the present moment 🍃. Focusing on the thoughts and emotions cycling through your head, while noticing the sensations in your body. Now that I’ve said that, you might be checking in with yourself - on what thoughts have come up while you’re reading, or how your body feels in the chair you are sitting in (if you weren’t being mindful then, you definitely are now!). This is mindfulness!

We can become successfully mindful in any moment, by completely focusing on the moment in front of us, noticing when our mind wanders 🌀, and bringing it back to the present just as quick 🌙.

Did you know you can eat mindfully? Start by putting away distractions, and focus on all your senses as you take a bite.

Here are a few ways to try to include this "present moment" feeling into your everyday life 🌱

🌬️Mindful Breathing -- Notice your breath - how does it feel, what parts of your body are moving, what difference do you notice when you exhale?

🍜 Mindful Eating -- What colors and shapes does your meal have? How does it smell? How does it taste?

🚶Mindful Walking -- Focus on the steps you are taking, the scenery around you, the noises coming from every which way.

👣 Body Scans -- Noticing how every part of your body feels, starting at your toes and moving all the way up to your head.

🔮 5-4-3-2-1 Method -- Focus on your surroundings by noticing

5 things you can see 👁️

4  things you can touch ✋🏼

3 things you can hear👂

2 things you can smell 👃

and 1 thing you can taste 👅

You can be mindful on-the-go! Next time you take a stroll, try paying attention to all of your senses to stay in the present moment.

Check in with yourself and see what has changed before and after this mindfulness exercise, and keep practicing! 🌞

Check back in for Part 2 of our Mindfulness Series soon!