Opening up to the present moment with mindfulness

Written by Perrine Rosato

In this article you'll be able to find out more about mindfulness and how best to practice it while adapting it to your lifestyle. You've already briefly seen some of the details listed in the previous article. We're going to take a closer look at what mindfulness is all about.

Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment, without judging your thoughts or feelings, in complete freedom. This practice allows you to feel more relaxed, sleep better, bring your attention back to the present moment and also let yourself be less overwhelmed by everyday worries. Mindfulness allows you to focus on yourself and get to know yourself better. It's a practice that aims to listen to your body, to feel what you're feeling deep down inside. It's true that with everyday life, it's easy to become overwhelmed.

Mindfulness helps us to settle down, to understand what our body might want to tell us, and to go out and find the life we want to have.

In the practice of mindfulness, the aim is not to force yourself to feel something, just to welcome your thoughts with open arms and let the elements go. It's a practice that consists of taking kind action in the present moment, while being aware of our thoughts, emotions and the environment around us, without identifying with them.

How to practice mindfulness

Training your mind to focus on the present moment isn't easy. It takes time. It's normal if it doesn't happen immediately. It's like gymnastics. With practice, your mind will get used to it and it will become easier and easier. You'll be able to have fun while you train.

- To do this, you don't automatically have to be sitting, lying down or in a relaxed position. You can use this practice anywhere and at any time. Indeed, if at first it's easier for you to sit or lie down, you can of course do so.

- It's best to be in a quiet place.

- The most important thing is breathing. Breathing allows us to always bring ourselves back to the present moment and relax. We must use our breathing as the main tool in this practice.

- Once you've settled in, you can close your eyes.

- You can then become aware of where you are. Turn your attention to the sounds you can hear.

- See how your skin reacts, for example, if you feel cold or hot.

• Become aware of your breath, feel what's happening in your body. If you have tension anywhere. The sensation of the breath coming in and out of your lungs. Also the air passing in and out of your nose.

(Your brain will continue to function with various thoughts. Don't stop these thoughts, it's a bit like mediation, you have to let what is come).

And there you have it: mindfulness. It's a very simple practice, but one that nevertheless requires work, because as explained above, what's important is to succeed in letting things come and go without judgment. If you're going through a stressful time in your life, this can be very necessary, as you'll be able to better understand what's going on, while at the same time accepting it.

Self-care is the key word in mindfulness. That's why you can practice it at any time, in just a few minutes a day.

Here are a few examples of mindfulness in everyday life:

Out and about: Listen to birdsong, insect noises or the rustle of leaves in the trees. If you live in the city, listen to the noise of cars or the voices of passers-by.

In the shower: Feel the warmth of the water on your skin. Listen to the sound of running water. Observe your thoughts and feelings as you enjoy the showering experience.

While shopping: Listen to what's going on around you. Take the time to look at your products, to concentrate on what you're doing in terms of action.

Simply walking: become aware of the sounds and smells around you. Listen to and feel our movements, our breathing, our steps on the ground, the way our muscles work.

Combining mindfulness with sports: the key to happiness

As we've seen, mindfulness can be practiced anywhere. It can also be practised in our sporting activities. Whether it's running, swimming or weight training, alone or with others, it's possible.

The practice is similar to that explained above. The difference is that you're physically active, and depending on the sport you're doing, you'll be able to concentrate on your sensations. If you're running, you can listen to the sound of your sneakers on the ground, feel the pressure on your thighs, followed by your hips, abs and arms.

This is how you practice mindfulness while running. It's quite simple, and allows you to stay focused on the present moment and feel all the sensations in order to get to know your body better. Practising mindfulness as a physical activity is more effective than practising sport alone in improving physical and mental well-being in general.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, mindfulness is an excellent way to feel more at peace in your daily life. It doesn't require much, apart from you and your breathing.

So don't wait any longer, open up to what you feel and what's next to you.

Apps to use: Petit bamboo, calm, headspace, namatata, mindfulness

Book: "The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh