This week's lesson is how to become more aware and also how to become more mindful.
Number one for becoming more aware,
Practice mindfulness which includes and involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment.
Not judging the other nor judging yourself.
Take breaks throughout the day to step away from the screens and other distractions and focus on your surroundings.
Three,
Enjoy activities that challenge your mind such as reading,
Puzzles or learning a new skill.
And four,
Get enough sleep and exercise as these can both have a positive impact on your cognitive function.
Five,
Keep a journal to reflect on your thoughts,
Feelings and behaviors.
Six,
Spend time in nature paying attention to the beauty of the world surrounding you.
That's my favorite.
Seven,
Practice gratitude and appreciation the things that you have.
And eight,
Listen to and consider other people's perspectives.
Remember,
Being aware is an ongoing process and not a one-time event.
This is something you want to do regularly and incorporate these activities into your life so that you become more aware over time.
Now what about mindfulness?
Is it the same as being aware?
Kind of.
To become mindful,
You can try the following.
Set aside time each day to focus on mindfulness such as the first thing in the morning or the last thing at night.
Start with a few minutes of mindfulness practice and gratitude and gradually increase the length of time as you become more comfortable.
Focus on your breath and observing sensations of breathing in and out.
If your mind wanders,
Gently bring yourself back to your breath.
What I like to do with that is when I'm breathing in and out,
I concentrate on how when I breathe in,
I feel the coolness in my nostrils and when I breathe out,
I feel the warmth in my nostrils.
Practice mindfulness in your daily activities such as eating,
Walking and doing chores.
Use guided mindful exercises and meditations which can be found online and through mindfulness apps and I have a great one in the link below.
Practice mindfulness during yoga,
Tai chi or other forms of exercise.
Surround yourself with people who encourage you to support your mindfulness practice.
Now remember,
Mindfulness is also a skill that takes practice and patience to develop.
Be kind and gentle with yourself as you learn to be more present and aware in the moment.
If you feel like you need to seek professional help or a therapist or counseling,
Then this might be a process that you may want to explore.
Of course,
All you know this is what I do as well too,
But I am not a trained therapist.
I'm more of a consultant and a life coach.
So please take a look at the video that I've sent below and practice this every day for the rest of this week.
Namaste.
