Mindfulness is not just about sitting quietly and being present with your thoughts, but it’s also about remaining aware of what’s going on around you as well as within.
In fact, mindfulness meditation and its practice are much more than just an exercise. It’s a way of life.
Mindfulness meditation can improve the quality of your life and help you overcome stress, anxiety and negative emotions.
This practice can also help you become a happier and more confident person. It increases your self-awareness, and assist you in developing self-control. All this in a natural way rather than through medication or therapy.
Tips for Better Mindfulness Meditation
How to be mindful? How to improve your meditation?
I have written many articles about meditation and mindfulness, which you can find at this website.
In this article, I would like to focus on 9 tips to help you improve your practice of mindfulness meditation. They would also make you more mindful in your everyday life.
Sit Comfortably
First, sit comfortably with a straight back and a focus on your breathing. You can sit on the floor if you wish, but most people find it to be more relaxing when they sit on a cushion.
If you have pain in your back, you may sit on a stool or a couch. You can also sit in a chair, that’s okay.
Relax Your Body
Before you begin your meditation session, it would be a good idea to relax for a few moments.
Just sit down, focus on relaxing your body, and paying special attention to relax tensed parts of your body.
During your meditation session, try to keep your body relaxed. If you find that your body is getting tensed up, you can always take a brief break and relax your muscles.
Breathe Mindfully
Next, focus on your breathing. You can either sit upright or lie down on your back. You may close your eyes or keep them open.
Keep your focus on your breathing and let your breathing flow naturally. Focus on the air flowing in and out of your nostrils.
You can also focus on the feelings and sensations your body is experiencing as you breathe.
Be Present and Aware of Your Surroundings
You can continue focusing on your breath as described above, or you can, after a few moments of breathing mindfully, start focusing on what’s around you.
Notice what’s around you in terms of colours, shapes, textures, and sounds. Try to be aware of your surroundings as much as you can.
Notice the small things that go unnoticed by many people such as the smell of the air, sounds of people’s voices, or colours of the walls, floors, and other objects around you.
Focus on Your Awareness
You may also sit down comfortably and focus on your awareness – the feeling that you exist and are alive and conscious.
This might be difficult for beginners, since it requires strong focus, and the ability to disregard the thoughts that try to distract your attention.
Whenever you become aware that your attention went somewhere else, bring to back to the meditation. This might happen many times. Don’t worry about that. Just keep bring your attention to the meditation.
Practice Loving-Kindness Meditation
Loving-kindness meditation is a practice that helps you cultivate a feeling of goodwill towards others.
This practice helps you look at the positive sides of your relationships with others and helps you be happier.
It can also help those around you as well as those who don’t know you in any way.
During this meditation, focus on the good qualities you wish to have, which can help others.
You can also focus on kindness, feeling that love and kindness are flowing from you to the people around you.
Imagine love and kindness from the Universe are filling your body and mind and flowing toward the people you love or toward all people.
Try Walking Mindfulness Meditation
When you’re walking, you can either follow a specific path or take a random route. While walking, focus on your breathing.
You can also focus on your surrounding environment such as the colours, shapes, and textures that you notice on the way.
We have written special article on walking meditation.
Focusing Your Attention Is the Key to Mindfulness Meditation
You can focus on your breathing, the color and shape of your surroundings, or anything that comes to your mind.
You can also focus on one specific idea or thought that you would like to focus on, such as peace, happiness or beauty.
Another version of this meditation is to focus on your awareness and consciousness and the sense of being existing and alive.
Practicing Mindfulness in Everyday Life
After gaining some experience meditating alone, in a quiet place, you can try meditating when you are outside.
Do the same things you did when sat in your room, but this time while you are outside, sitting, travelling, or walking. Focus on your breath, on your surroundings, or on your awareness, but while you are busy with something that requires your attention.
Do this just for a few minutes, but don’t do so while driving, crossing a street, busy with something that requires your focus and attention, or when being in a crowded place.
Don’t’ worry if you cannot focus your mind, and keep being distracted by what is going around you. This meditation might not be as effective as when you are in a quiet place, but yet, it has positive effects.
Conclusion
Mindfulness meditation is not only a practice, but it’s also a way of life.
Try to practice daily mindfulness exercises to live a happier and more confident life. This can help you overcome stress, anxiety, and negative emotions, and it can also help you to be happier and more confident.
When you begin to practice mindfulness daily, you will notice that your life becomes much more enjoyable and filled with meaning.
You will also feel more energetic, focused and peaceful.
Do you wish to become more mindful, calm your mind, and enjoy a state of inner peace? Follow the advice and guidance, and practice the meditations in our book Calm Down the Nonstop Chatter of Your Mind.
