Do you ever find yourself so busy taking care of all the necessary stuff in your daily life that you tend to miss out on what is happening in the present moment. We forget to stop and smell the flowers—to be aware of our surroundings. In short, we need to practice Mindfulness.
As we age, we may worry more about our physical health, but that doesn’t mean we can let our mental health go. Mindfulness can help. It offers many physical and psychological benefits.
Being Aware
The basic philosophy of being mindful is self-awareness. It is the awareness that comes from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and without judgement.
Author Narayan Liebenson Grady provides some pointers on how to be mindful in her book When Singing, Just Sing.
When sitting, just sit.
When eating, just eat.
When walking, just walk.
When talking, just talk.
When listening, just listen.
When looking, just look.
When touching, just touch.
When thinking, just think.
When playing, just play.
And enjoy the feeling of each moment and each day.”
Being mindful is simply observing and accepting thoughts as they occur without judgment. Instead of worrying about the future or ruminating on the past, mindfulness meditation focuses on the present, blocking out modern-day distractions. Be aware of where you are and what is happening now. Quiet your mind and enjoy the feeling of what is happening to you as it is happening.
Why is mindfulness important?
Cognitive scientists have done numerous studies on the benefits of mindfulness. Some of their findings include
- Mindfulness improves the quality of our relationships.
- It enhances the sense of meaning we have in our lives.
- It quiets the racing mind
- It reduces the symptoms of hypertension.
- It reduces stress and anxiety
A recent study showed that it might even slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s and mindful meditation is being studied to see if it can offset the cognitive decline. The benefits of being mindful and meditation are just beginning to be realized.
Just Breathe
You can begin to become mindful by becoming aware of your surroundings and focusing on the now. To help focus you can try breathing exercises.
Mindful breathing is a very basic yet powerful mindfulness meditation practice. The idea is simply to focus your attention on your breathing—to its natural rhythm and flow and the way it feels on each inhale and exhale. That can help quiet stray thoughts that pop up and allow you to focus.
For more ways to get started with mindful meditation, check out these Meditation Techniques for Seniors, Mindfulness Activities for Healthy Aging, and How to Practice Mindful Meditation.
Related Article:
- Listening
- A Tool to Control Stress: Mindfulness
- Mindfulness through Meditation
- Mindfulness FAQ’s
- Mindfulness for Health and Happiness
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