Developing Mindfulness

Jon Kabat-Zinn (creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine) emphasises that although mindfulness can be cultivated through formal meditation, that’s not the only way.

“It’s not really about sitting in the full lotus, like pretending you’re a statue in a British museum,”. “It’s about living your life as if it really mattered, moment by moment by moment by moment.” –  Jon Kabat-Zinn

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Here are a few key components of practicing mindfulness that Kabat-Zinn and others identify:

1. Pay close attention to your breathing, especially when you’re feeling intense emotions.

2. Notice—really notice—what you’re sensing in a given moment, the sights, sounds, and smells that ordinarily slip by without reaching your conscious awareness.

3. Recognise that your thoughts and emotions are fleeting and do not define you, an insight that can free you from negative thought patterns.

4. Tune into your body’s physical sensations, from the water hitting your skin in the shower to the way your body rests in your office chair.