Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction to Increase Your Happiness

Being mindful is to become a conscious observer of your thoughts and surroundings. Your thoughts and feelings may be optimistic or pessimistic but you don’t get caught up in the drama of it all. When you are mindful, you notice the sounds around you, such as the humming of a refrigerator and the things that you see, such as the colors of a nearby cookbook. Rather than perceiving anything as a distraction, you take it all in with a sense of peacefulness. You can do this type of mindfulness meditation anywhere and any time to reduce stress it is just a matter of allowing yourself to get out of your head and into your body where your senses take over.

Experience the “Now”
If you decide to take a seated position for your mindfulness practice, simply become aware of the current moment. Experience what is happening right now and allow any negative emotions of fear, anger or anxiety to dissolve. Mindfulness teaches you how to become conscious of what is happening around you, in your life and in your environment. You become the observer of both the good and the bad and as a result you are able to respond to life in a more positive way.

Notice the Present Moment
The release of tension and stress are the major benefits that you’ll realize from undertaking this kind of meditation practice. Our society is so caught up in the rush of moving from one activity to another while life is passing us by. By taking each moment at a time and becoming more mindful, you can begin to enjoy even the most mundane activities in your day. Remember, the past is gone, the future isn’t here yet and the present is a gift! Try this type of meditation and see if it resonates with you.

Choose How You Want to Feel Moment To Moment
Life is full of choices and so you can choose to live in the present any time you notice that you are feeling stressed or depressed. In fact, any time that you notice that you are not feeling peace, joy or contentment, it’s your cue to knowing that you are not experiencing the present moment. Stop for a moment and take a deep breath, slow down and begin to experience life through your senses. When you do, you will be practising mindfulness.