If there is one ability that you could learn that would make every single aspect of your life better, what would it be? Undoubtedly, it would be the ability to control your emotions and to control the way you think.
Most of our fears, doubts, misunderstandings are based on our perception and not the reality. Our beliefs & perceptions runs us. So, controlling your emotions also means you’ll be able to overcome stressful situations and even phobias! Say goodbye to a fear of public speaking… And likewise, controlling your emotions can help you to avoid arguments and shouting matches in your relationship – which will result in a more harmonious and happy home life.
This can be achieved with the help of Mindfulness. It essentially gives us a tool that we can use to not only calm our thoughts and escape the stressors of the day but also reflect on the contents of our mind in the interests of self-improvement.
Essentially, mindfulness is a form of meditation. The idea behind mindfulness meditation then is not to try and empty your thoughts but instead to simply step back from them and ‘observe’ them like a detached third party. This way, you aren’t letting your thoughts affect you and make you stressed but you also aren’t going to struggle with not being ‘allowed’ to think anything.
Mindful Exercises
- Sit down and relax. Take few heavy breaths and allow it to settle after couple of minutes.
- Now we’re going to start bringing the attention inward by focussing on the senses.
- Move your attention to your body, one part at a time, noting sensations of cold, hot, tight, sore and anything else you identify. After a few minutes, start listening to sounds in the room, without thinking about them.
- Just listen, while still maintaining an awareness of your body and your breath.
- In ten minutes or so, or when it feels right, open your eyes and look around as if you are seeing for the first time.
- Let your eyes rest on an object for half a minute, examining it without talking about it in your mind. Then move to another object, and another, while still maintaining an awareness of your body, your breathing, and any sounds. Just stay in this state of mindfulness for a few minutes, until you are ready to get up.
When you are aware of your body, breath and immediate environment, you are more fully “in the moment.” Your mind is in a receptive state, with fewer mental distractions that can prevent clear thinking. An exercise like this before important mental tasks will give you greater brain power, specifically more focus and concentration.
Some of the useful ebooks on Mindfulness:
