Many people think that meditation is a practice which involves emptying your mind of thoughts. This misconception can leave beginners feeling like ‘bad’ meditators. Mindfulness meditation is not about emptying the mind, but rather stabilising our attention and training our minds to be more focused, effective and skillful in everyday life. You can bring mindfulness to everyday activities simply by tuning in to your senses which helps you to actually be present to what you are doing, rather than lost in thinking.

Here are ten steps to bring mindfulness into your daily life.

1. Be mindful in conversation

Use listening as a meditation. Pay attention to the whole person speaking. Notice the sound and rhythm of their voice and their facial expressions. Notice your mind drifting off into fantasy or thinking whilst the person is speaking. Notice your urge to speak, is it easier for you to listen or talk?

2. Be mindful when eating

Notice the food on your plate, pay attention to colours, shapes and smells. Bring awareness to the sensation of chewing and the flavours, textures and temperatures in your mouth. Notice any urge to eat quickly or swallow your food without chewing it completely. Be aware of the mind being hijacked from the experience of eating and gently bring it back to the food. Continue reading →