Mindfulness is being less in our thoughts and more in what is happening around us. It is being attentive to the sound of the rain and the song of the birds. It's feeling the breeze of the wind or lingering in the warmth of a sunbeam. It is also looking at a red apple and finding it pretty. In short, it's regaining the use of our 5 senses. And it is reconnecting with the surrounding nature and ourselves.
Mindfulness is even considered as a form of meditation. It directly exerts changes in certain areas of the brain that are related to attention, memory and emotions. This results in the person practicing mindfulness being able to react differently to certain situations in life.
For example:
allowing for better stress and anxiety management;
by allowing a better management of pain;
and by allowing an improvement of cognitive capacities.
In fact, it contributes to an improved quality of life and well-being.
Comment intégrer la pleine conscience au quotidien?
First of all, you should know that you can practice mindfulness in two ways:
Formal: by taking time to meditate, either standing, sitting or lying down, just breathing and being aware of your surroundings.
Informal: by paying special attention to the tasks you do on a daily basis. For example, taking a moment to smell the good aromas when you cook, or taking a moment to feel the warm water on your hands when you wash the dishes.
One of the best ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life in an informal way is to pay attention to everything you see when you take a walk. Because that's when it's easiest to think about many things at once. So instead of thinking about how you're going to get through your week of work and chores, well, live in the moment, looking at the trees, the birds, the color of the sky, etc. And that will help you meditate and stress less.
Finally, do one thing at a time. No matter what it is, give your full attention to what you are doing. Bye bye the screen while talking to someone! Take the time to really listen to the person in front of you. And you will see that in the end, mindfulness is easier to do than it seems.
Good meditation!