Mindfulness
“Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives—about noticing the vivid richness of each moment.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn
For many of us, this kind of awareness appears unexpectedly. It might arise during a quiet walk in nature, in a moment of deep focus at work or play, or in a meaningful connection with another person when time seems to pause.
In these moments, we feel fully present—grounded, alive, and complete. Although this state is always within reach, it often slips away, especially when we are faced with stress, challenges, or the demands of daily life.
By focusing on the present moment, people who practice mindfulness find that they are less likely to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets over the past, and are better able to form deep connections with others.
Kindness is an essential component of mindfulness. Bringing kindness to yourself as you work with your mind, bringing kindness to others, is all a part of mindfulness practice.
Mindfulness has been found to be an effective element in the treatment of depression, especially preventing relapse and for assisting with mood regulation. For substance abuse, for eating disorders, for conflict, and anxiety.
When mindless, we tend to jump to the first conclusion; when mindful, we are able to imagine multiple explanations and perspectives and keep them in mind as possibilities without deciding which one is best.
Ellen LangerMindfulness is the practice of bringing the mind back into the present moment, and continuing to bring the mind back to the present moment - gently and kindly - whenever it wanders away again.
Whatever we are doing, we can do so mindfully, whether we are eating, talking, listening, walking, or when driving.
When we allow our minds to come fully present into the present moment, we can silence the mind noise and start to experience peace of mind.
Paying attention to present moment experience with open curiosity and a willingness to be with what is.
Diana Winston
Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives. It is about perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment. We also gain immediate access to our own powerful inner resources for insight, transformation, and healing. - Jon Kabat-Zinn
A Mindfulness Practice
Part of mindfulness is simply learning to train the mind in how to be here, where we already are. Like right now; let's practice together. Allow your eyes to close, and just feel your feet on the floor. Wiggle your toes and sense your whole body sitting there.
Now bring your focus to your breath. Feel the breath as it naturally flows in and out of the body. Pay attention with kindness. The mind will wander off, that's natural, when you realise the mind has wandered off, gently and kindly bring your focus back. See if you can do this for a few minutes. Then resume your day.
Mindful Expressive Art Journal Sessions ...
These are sessions learning about and experiencing mindfulness and playing in art journals... no need for any art experience in these sessions, I show you step by step how to start and learn about the creative process. Or, if you are an artist, use your artistic tools to deepen your artistic practice, unblock, and create original art from your own inner, intuitive, creative, self.
