Being mindful

Well this week I have practiced the art of being mindful. 


Too many times in the past I have eaten a whole meal almost without realising what I've eaten, driven my car and not remembered the journey, had a conversation with a friend and only been bothered about what I"m going to say, done a task at work and thought only of home..........I'm sure you've all been there. Practicing mindfulness has pretty much changed that for me, and I say practice, because it really does take some practice to remember to do it, and not to slip from doing it, back to being 'unconcious'.

So now when I eat, I take time to savour the food, analysing the taste, texture, smell, heat, and enjoying the whole thing, and guess what? I don't suffer the same indigestion, and I feel more satisfied on a smaller portion! which can only be good for me.

If I'm driving, I make sure to read the road signs, feel what the car is telling me, I wind the window down a bit and smell the fresh air and the countryside, It makes a hell of a difference to your level of alertness too, which is great for road safety.

But the best outcome, is when I'm listening to someone now, I really listen. I take note of posture, eye movements, language, even the amount of positive or negative words the person is using, and I am loving the change this has brought. I find I get a more full picture of what the person is telling me, and I feel I know their issues in more depth, and what they are trying to get across to me.

I understand it is a fact that body language is a massive percentage of any conversation, and only by being mindful do I appreciate and take on board the subtle messages that come across to you when you really watch someone as they talk.

If you want to try being mindful, I suggest starting by just sitting in a quiet room in your house. Simply sit there and let it all come to you. The feel of the chair you're sitting on, the sounds through the open window, is it hot? cold? what can you smell? are you tense? (this is the moment you realise your shoulders are up around your ears and your teeth are clenched)!! Just breathe and take it all in. It is amazing what you find when you really stop to take it all in, above all a sense of calm returns, and you get a little boost of energy to carry on with your day. Call it a QRT bite (quality recovery time), and don't forget to thank yourself for the break!