Becoming Present: Practicing Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness may sound like something some of us have heard about as a tool used in therapy. There could have been times when you have tried to practice mindfulness, but possibly felt you were doing something wrong or your mental thoughts interrupting. What we can do in situations like this is break mindfulness down to make it understandable to the individual. When we think of the word mindfulness some may think of meditation or maybe some think of a definition like being conscious. I’m sure we have all heard people tell us at one point growing up, “Be mindful of others” and so what does that mean? Thinking about how others would feel, respecting others, and taking others into consideration.

Mindfulness is about allowing yourself to give you the consideration you deserve and stopping to listen to the emotions you are experiencing instead of ignoring them in that moment. You could be thinking that there’s no way you would ignore your feelings. However, many people push their feelings away just outside of their consciousness. Mindfulness centers around acceptance. Through the application of acceptance, we can find the courage to look into our feelings. We stop looking away from our emotions and confront them.

Mindfulness teaches non-judgmental observation of our thoughts and feelings in order to promote positive thinking and self-consideration. Sometimes when we get negative thoughts and feelings, we quickly jump our minds onto anything else. Some of us have even shaken our heads to make it easier for them to go away. Taking the time to think about why you may feel this way and validating those feelings can ease moments of stress that would otherwise be overwhelming.

According to Cathy Wong’s article “What is Mindfulness Meditation?” mindfulness can be practiced anywhere and doesn’t necessarily need large portions of your time. Take brief moments to check in with yourself and any sensations you may be experiencing. You can also take walks while paying attention to sights, smells, and sounds around you. It’s about being kind to yourself so don’t feel upset if you think you’re doing it wrong. If you’re mind begins to wander, accept that it did and return to whatever practice you were preforming.

~ Karla Morales