Here’s why you don’t have to meditate to be mindful
Have you been hearing lots of great things about Mindfulness but feeling a bit lost on how to start?
Are people telling you that Mindfulness will really help you with feelings of stress or anxiety?
Is the idea of meditation putting you off getting started?
I often hear that people are hesitant about mindfulness because they find it really hard to meditate.
My clients tell me how they find it nearly impossible to sit quietly for even 10 minutes and switch off their mind.
I couldn’t agree more. I can’t sit there for that length of time and switch my mind off completely either! It’s certainly not easy to do that. And I don’t believe that’s what we have to do in order to be mindful.
I sometimes feel there’s a bit of a misunderstanding that meditation and mindfulness are the same thing.
While you can be mindful while you meditate, you certainly don’t have to meditate to be mindful.
Mindfulness is a way of life, and you can practice it at any moment during the day.
- You can practice it for just 10 seconds.
- You can practice it while chatting to a friend and actively listening to what they are saying.
- You can practice it while walking down the road and noticing everything around you (rather than thinking about your to do list, or looking at your phone).
- You can practice it while focusing on your breath. Inhale. Exhale.
- You can practice it while reading this blog 🙂
You are practicing it when you notice that you need to stop for a moment and take a break.
Mindfulness, in its simplest form, is being fully engaged in the very moment you’re in, whatever you are doing.
The more you become aware of it, the easier it becomes. The more you practice it, the greater the benefits.
You have a better attention span and become more focused. You are able to do things more efficiently because you’re not being distracted.
You will feel better, because you not trying to do lots of things at once. You give your body and mind a welcomed break from the endless chatter.
Sounds inviting doesn’t it?
When you are being mindful, you are in flow. Things slow down but you can still get things done.
So if you’re giving Mindfulness a go, it helps to remember these 3 things:
- Try out 1 or 2 things– we’re all different and what works well for one person might not work at all for someone else. Find what works for you and keep practicing it.
- Be patient – it takes a little time for things to become our new ‘normal’. It’s rumoured that we have to try things out for 21 days to break old patterns of behaviour.
- Little and often – practice something for just 20 seconds a few times a day. That’s better than not doing it at all and we are generally able to try something out for short periods of time. That way we feel like we’ve succeeded and we’re more willing to try something
So, don’t worry there’s no need to perfect the art of meditation. Mindfulness allows us to continue what we’re doing, but in a more mindful way.
Remember: Start small and build from there.
Much love,
Natasha x
P.S. What one thing is standing in the way of your mindfulness practice?
P.P.S Reply by email – I’d love to hear how you are getting on, or let me know if you’re struggling and need a little inspiration to make a start!? natasha@mindbodysoulenergy.co.uk
http://https://youtu.be/EuxIJQ3TYTk