Practice Makes Perfect
You may have heard the saying ‘Five minutes to learn but a lifetime to master’, well, this little kernel of wisdom applies especially well to Mindfulness.
(Image by Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
Learning Mindfulness can be done very quickly but like all skills, it takes daily practice for it to be effective.
In a future post, I will show you the Breath Meditation which is one of the basic building blocks of Mindfulness. Today though, I want to show how you can easily incorporate Mindfulness into your everyday routines.
Mindfulness While Making A Hot Drink
Even the most mundane of tasks can be viewed as an opportunity to practice. How? Let us take an example of a simple task that most of us do every day. Why don’t we Mindfully make a hot drink? Let us say a cup of tea.
Next time you make a cup of tea, instead of casually throwing in a tea bag and then pouring in boiling water, try the following:-
Before starting, take a moment to resolve to take the time to make your tea. Be Mindful.
Fill the kettle. Listen to the water running in. Hear how the noise alters the fuller the kettle becomes.
While the kettle is boiling (hear how it sounds), mindfully lay out the cup and spoon. How do they feel in your hands? Are they cool or warm? What sound do they make when you place them down?
Take the tea (whether loose or in a tea bag) and smell it. Look at it closely and really see what it looks like. Feel the texture of the tea or the tea bag between your fingers. Can you hear any sound as you roll it in your fingers? Maybe even taste a little bit and see what it is like.
Do the same for the sugar if you have any.
If you take milk then smell that as well. Notice how different it is from the other things you have just smelt. Again taste a little.
Once the kettle has boiled (again experiencing the sound it makes) pour it over the tea. Watch the steam from the water as it rises in the air. Can you smell the hot tea? Is it any different from that of the cold tea before?
Add your milk and sugar if desired but take your time. Slowly pour in the milk or spoon in the sugar. Notice how it affects the surface of the tea as you do so.
When cool enough take a sip of the tea. Can you feel the warm steam against your face? What does the tea taste like? If you have added milk or sugar can you taste those?
Sit back and enjoy the rest of the cup. Take this time for yourself.
(Image by Pong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
The Essence Of Mindfulness
The whole idea behind this exercise is to take notice of everything. Sights, sounds, smells, taste and touch. This is the essence of Mindfulness, Focusing on what is happening now and living in the current moment.
Think of other everyday tasks where you could apply the principles of Mindfulness at home or work. Walking the dog, doing the ironing, typing a report or having a shower are all examples of where our lives can become a more Mindful experience.
Take every opportunity to practice your Mindfulness. By doing this you will in effect ‘rewire’ your brain, forging new neural networks and breaking down old ones.
As you can imagine this ‘rewiring’ of your brain doesn’t happen overnight so that’s why incorporating Mindfulness into your everyday life is important.
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I am not - and do not in any way claim to be - a medical professional nor have I any medical training or connections to the medical or health profession. Despite what you may hear or read Mindfulness is not a cure-all or substitute for proper medical advice. Therefore, as we take this Mindfulness journey together, I strongly advise you to seek qualified, professional medical help if you have, or think you may have, a medical condition. Also, continue to take any prescribed medication you may be on unless advised otherwise by your health professional.
I hope you have enjoyed this post and would consider following me (I will reciprocate). Some of my posts are about mental health issues while others cover a wide range of subjects. For a taster of my musings please follow these links:-
Mindfulness - Part 1 - An Introduction
Mindfulness - Part 2 _ What Mindfulness Is And Is Not
Part 1 of the talk about depression
Part 2 of my talk about depression
Part 3 of my talk about depression
People on the autism spectrum can have difficulty processing time
I'm fed up of watering my plants so I buy a self-waterer
A visit to the grave of Anne Bronte
Until next time - take care of yourselves.
