Practicing Mindfulness

Develop one habit at a time
 Choose one positive habit and keep at it until it becomes so natural that not a day goes past without it naturally arising.

Practice gratitude
 It is important to take joy in the smallest of things. As we practice gratitude, we become increasingly aware that there’s always something to be thankful for, even in the bleakest situation.

Breathe deeply
 Yoga teachings say that the longer the breath the longer you live. Try inhaling deeply and slowly count to three, then exhale and repeat the same again. Be aware of the rush of fresh, oxygenated blood as it fills lungs and refreshes your thoughts. Try this a few times per day as a breathing exercise or to relieve stress during the day.

Prioritize
 Mindfulness is a practice that needs prioritizing. The more you are aware of this the easier it will be to fit into your daily tasks.

Turn down the noise
 Turn off your gadgets for a couple of hours: your TV, your smartphone, your tablet. Once you get used to being without these things, you’ll find that you don’t miss the noise.

Listen, don’t just hear
 Be mindful that offering your undivided attention for the duration of your conversations and being mentally present can enhance interactions with others.

Watch what you eat
 Dietary guidelines teach us to watch what we eat, but mindful eating makes things much simpler than counting calories. The mindfulness approach triggers a natural ability to identify which foods the body thrives on and those that are just convenient, quick fixes. While eating, consider where your food came from, how it grew and its journey from the land to your plate.

Listen to your intuition
 People who practice mindfulness can better connect and learn to trust their intuition. Start listening and trusting your intuition. The results will speak for themselves.

Choose your words
 Begin taking note of how you speak with others. Often, preconceptions and misguided beliefs lead us to come across in a way that doesn’t truly reflect our inner person or intentions. Sometimes our personal frustration, insecurities, fears, and anger shape the words we use. Think about if you speak kindly to others, or have you fallen into an autopilot pattern of speaking? Do you come across as critical or judgmental?

Speak kindly to yourself
 We can only be as kind to others as we are to ourselves. Take a few moments to notice how you speak to yourself. Be patient with yourself, praise yourself in your efforts and forgive yourself in your shortcomings.