Mindfulness

This seems to be a buzz word or concept at the moment, which has been around for thousands of years. It is around now for me because I am learning more and more. Although this is definitely about breathing and meditating it is much more. Following the last 2 weekends where I attended ACT - Acceptance Commitment Therapy where a huge component is mindfulness and the first Positive Psychology Conference, where they talked about meaningful and purposeful lives, activities based on values, as if it is a new thing and there is a whole Profession - Occupational Therapy that has existed since the early 1900's. We do a 3 year degree for it. Anyway, they talked a lot about mindfulness and to be honest I am grateful that science is finally catching up which means that approaches will change and hopefully there will be a much more contented world.

I am using these techniques so much in my work and just amalgamating everything. I am using it on myself and noticing how much more I am enjoying my food. I am being really present to tastes, smells, textures and did not realise just much I enjoyed how food looks. By being more present I definitely am having a different experience that is much more satisfying. The other day at the ACT workshop I was eating an apple and so was my neighbour and we could hear so much of the apple. I know it sounds crazy but it was fun and was definitely satisfying.

Mindfulness can be used in so many ways and at present I am busy and know that the next 2 days I am going to be in overwhelm but I have decided that I can accept that and also accept that it is what it is. I know that I can handle it because I always do. I am committed to be willing to use mindfulness and my action for the therapy bit will be when I get the thoughts, I will just let them run by like leaves on a stream, be mindful, present of my breathing, even just noticing 3 breaths and focus on what I am doing. What a great tool.

So, what is one way that you could be more mindful of something, even if it is your breath 3 - 5 or the texture of the next thing you eat and just notice. Enjoy :-)