Do you find your mind is full of clutter? Operating on autopilot? Hijacked by the thinking mind?
In today’s busy world, many of us suffer from an onslaught of mental static, non-productive thought patterns, obsessions, addictions and an increasing list of things to DO.
We are subjected to an increasing amount of stimulation, from the bombarding nature of mobile phones to the assault of technology, news and information. These factors, together with the growing pressure and speed of modern-day life, all contribute to higher stress levels, mental agitation and activity.
Mindfulness is an invitation to slow down, to train the mind to be present. It is about being completely in the now, noticing this second – how you feel, what you think, what you want – without criticism or judgment.
As the Buddha quoted, mindfulness is an invitation to, “know the body in the body, know the breath in the breath, know the quality of sensation in the sensation.”
When we notice what we are thinking and feeling in the moment, we can grow our capacity to respond to life more appropriately and skillfully.
Mindful awareness – or mindfulness – spontaneously arises out of this BEING mode. It’s when we learn to purposefully pay attention to the present moment, without judgment, to things as they actually are.
So, how can mindfulness benefit you in your daily life?
Mindfulness helps in creating space and awareness to choose how to respond to any given moment, experience, person and situation. This simple act of bringing attention back to present moment helps to:
– Reduce anxiety and stress
– Increase focus and embodied attention
– Develop greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence
– Develop greater sense of wellbeing and ease
Mindfulness is simply a method of mental training. It’s not a religion and you don’t have to sit cross-legged on the floor (but you can if you want to). Most people who come to classes like to sit on a chair or simply practise bringing mindful awareness to whatever they are doing – whether that be on a bus or train, walking or in a queue, or brushing their teeth or making tea.
You can mediate anywhere, anytime.
In the words of Victor Frankl, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power and freedom to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our happiness.”
Susan Nove will be leading a six-week Mindfulness course starting on Friday 9th November in Camden. Join her every Friday evening to learn mindfulness techniques and meditation practices to enable you to embody life more fluidly, fully and freely. To find out more, click here.
Susan is a naturopath and has been meditating for more than 30 years. She has completed a Meditation and Yin yoga teacher training and is an accredited mindfulness teacher with the Mindfulness Training Institute. Her enthusiasm and dedication to the positive effects of meditation can be seen in her teaching, showing how the simple act of bringing your attention back to the present moment has an ability to heal and transform our lives and the world in which we live.
