STOP! How Being Aware Of The Present Moment Can Help Us Feel Calm, Content And Help To Clear Our Mind.

Mindfulness seems to be the buzz word at the moment. In fact offices across California are encouraging their employees to down tools at 12pm for 30 minutes to practice it and there is now a growing number of mindfulness apps springing up everywhere, so what exactly is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is about being in the present moment and taking time to notice things around you such as your thoughts, feelings, sights and smells. We are all constantly juggling 101 things at any one time like thinking about what to cook for dinner, what jobs need doing and which child needs taking to which club and at what time!
We often miss hearing our children laugh or take the time to listen to birds singing or miss the beauty of what is around us because we are so caught up in the past or planning the rest of your week in our mind. By experiencing life in the ‘NOW’ can help you appreciate what is around you and also help cope with stressful situations more easily by helping you focus on what is important.

Take a moment to connect with your posture, notice where your back is on the chair and how your feet feel resting on the floor and what your hands are doing. Focus where in your body you feel calm, it may be your tummy or chest and by concentrating on that area will help to relax you.

Each time you practise mindfulness you are building up part of the brain that corresponds with paying attention by ignoring the endless other thoughts running through your mind and concentrating on the here and now.
There has also been studies done that show mindfulness can reduce stress, improve sleep, stop addictive behaviours and help beat chronic pain just by thinking of the present moment and enjoying the simple pleasures every day brings.
The more you practice mindfulness the easier it becomes. Why not diarise some time, until it becomes a natural practice, to ‘Day Dream’ and be Mindful throughout the day?
I introduce Mindfulness practice into my NLP and Hypnotherapy Classes I run to help people De-Stress. If you would like some more information on these classes check out http://unbouncepages.com/relaxation-nlp-classes/
Like most things you have to practice mindfulness regularly to stop the negative thoughts that can take over our mind and learn to appreciate the smell of the flowers or the scenery around us or that great one liner your child said today. Life is for living and enjoying… Take time to notice!