MINDFULNESS

Try describing what fun is to a child.  Without offering an experience - it’s a difficult task.  Defining mindfulness is similar.                                 

Yale University's mindfulness experts define it as “a way of paying attention to our present moment experience in a non-judgmental way.”

When you become curious about your attention - is it scattered and busy? 

Are you distracted by thoughts about the future or reminiscing about the past and miss the very experience you are in? 

Have you ever reacted quickly, without thinking, and wish you hadn't?

By paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, body sensations and surrounding environment, mindfulness develops a pause before a knee-jerk reaction. This pause creates access to more thoughtful choices. 

Mindfulness is a skill that we all have within us, and like any skill, it takes learning and practice.  

There are many tools which are easily embedded in your daily life. As you practice purposeful, gentle attention, you observe and train your mind, body and heart . . . life becomes easier and much richer.

An exercise, like placing your attention on your breathing, is a technique to become more mindful.