Do you need five reasons to start practising mindfulness today? In this post, I'll share five benefits or insights you can experience in your daily life by having a formal mindfulness practice. But first, let me address a common concern that discourages many people from meditating.
Am I not meditating the 'right' way?
Many think that having many thoughts means they're not meditating correctly. But this is false! Even if hundreds of thoughts, concerns, plans, journeys to the past and the future arise, simply acknowledging them with kindness and returning to the breath or another anchor, means you are in the present moment and actually mediating. Embracing distractions in your practice is expected and something you can train yourself in.
So, if you've only meditated a couple of times and for five minutes, please do not give up just yet. Being completely honest with you, consistency is key here. It requires commitment on your part, as daily practices can initially take up a significant chunk of your available time. But they are entirely worth it, in my opinion. That's why I invite you to give it a try and see how it goes.
What can I learn from having a mindfulness practice?
To further encourage you, let me share the five benefits that a regular mindfulness practice can offer:
Moving from the automatic pilot to the 'being mode'. You become more aware of what's happening around you, experiencing life with your five senses more often. You can enjoy eating and drinking mindfully, for example.
Being in the present moment. Noticing when you are drifting to the past or the future. Leave 'time traveling' to Marty McFly and Doc (I'm a hug 'Back to the future' fan) and returning to the here and now, thus making better use of your energy.
Getting to know yourself. Noticing your thoughts, feelings, body sensations and your inner patterns and tendencies. With that information, you can recognise when stress is creeping in and swiftly move away from it.
Gaining perspective. Taking a pause allows you to respond from a calmer place while experiencing more clarity, therefore making decisions aligned to your own well-being.
Being kinder and compassionate towards yourself. Practising mindfulness and treating yourself with kindness is a form of self-care, especially during challenging moments.
In summary, mindfulness enables you to respond to life's challenges and 'savour' moments of joy as well. What do you think? Would you like to build the habit of meditating, feeling supported by a community? This is where an eight-week mindfulness course can help, as having a consistent meditation practice plus exercises allows you to learn through your own experience.
Curious, but want to try it on your own for now? 🎧 Listen to my guided meditation audios here.
Any doubts or questions? Let me know in the comments or send me a message here.
And if you'd like to enrol in the next edition of my 'Mindfulness for well-being' course, you can find more information below.