Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment without passing judgment on our thoughts or experiences. This all begins and ends in the body and its sensations, reaching there through our breath. It involves noticing where we are and what's going on in our body and mind. As we become more aware of where we are and what we are doing, we become less reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Instead we become more responsive by learning how to pause and give ourselves a chance to mindfully respond instead of reacting to any given situation.
When we sit in meditation this is the very thing that we practice. Training in establishing a presence, learning to see clearly and fully feel the changing flow of sensations, feelings, emotions and sounds. Getting distracted by mind chatter and physical sensations are natural. However, as we keep practicing presence we decrease stress and anxiety, learn to focus and calm down as well as navigate difficult emotions. We learn to control impulses and nurture compassion and positivity. This will expand and touch all the people you interact with. The most important thing is to approach your practice with curiosity and friendliness, not judging your chattering mind or your wiggling body. Give yourself the gift of practicing every day, even if it is just for a few minutes.
