Mindfulness
Sit back, relax, and meditate
“The only moment in which you can be truly alive is the present moment”
Mindfulness entails giving full attention to the present moment, in a non-judgmental way. Simple as that. However, just as we go to the gym to get fit physically, we need to train our brain to strengthen our ability to be mindful. A tool to train this open and active attention is meditation, an exercise in which you carefully observe your thoughts and feelings without judging them. Whenever you get distracted and get caught up in automatic thoughts, you gently bring you attention back to a focal point (for example your breath). Results of mindfulness include: lowering stress, focusing your mind, reducing brain chatter, improving our capacity to connect, and reshaping your relation with physical and mental pain. Mindfulness and the awareness it brings forms the basis for Emotional Intelligence.
“In such a time [in which the pace of change is dizzying and ever increasing], opting to pause and reflect, rather than panic or withdraw, is a necessity. It is not a luxury or a distraction—it is a way to increase the odds that you’ll better understand, and engage productively with, the world around you.”
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