MindfulLiving

Improve your state of mind by making a purposeful effort to always look for the positive aspects of life. To focus on these positives, attempt recalling acts of kindness, praise, or just savouring a few awesome moments. Committing your attention to the positive aspects of life can dramatically improve your state of mind.

Sometimes, the more you try to calm or focus your thoughts, the more chaotic or disorganised they become. Finding the gaps amongst your thoughts can be an excellent means to help you relax and focus your mind. Even in a loud or disorderly mind, there can be gaps between your thoughts. So rather than trying to directly calm thoughts, find the gaps in between your thoughts. Then focus on these gaps, witnessing them grow larger. As the gaps grow larger, they will push your thoughts to the side of your mind, allowing you to achieve a calmer state of mind.

Many of us can become absorbed in our feelings and have restricted self-awareness as a result. You may have wondered how can meditation or similar practices assist in dealing with strong damaging emotions? The key is that many of these techniques provide a way to pause or moderate your thoughts and reactions. Then with your thoughts or reactions paused, you may choose to not be swept up in the whirlwind of damaging emotions and feelings.

You may have applied mindfulness with the desire to relieve stress or to calm your mind. Using mindfulness is one method which allows you to focus on the present moment; offering you the opportunity to observe the world within or around you. Be more attentive to live your life now, rather than dwelling on the past or obsessively worrying about the future.

How many times do we look back at situations in our lives and acknowledge that, with hindsight, we could have reacted differently? If you end up being aware of your sensations, emotions and ideas, then you have the opportunity to respond differently. Be aware of your tension if you become stressed out. Be mindful of your irritation when you are upset or angry. Once you become aware and are mindful, you can pause, then decide to alter the way you behave or react differently, to any situation.

Complete attention is the application of one hundred per cent of your brainpower to the moment. Through your fullest attention, you have the opportunity to not only focus on the moment, but also to be an observer of yourself. As the observer of your mind, you can notice when your attention starts to drift and stray thoughts appear seemingly at random. The instant that you lose complete attention, refocusing on the moment will assist you in pushing the encroaching thoughts or emotions to the periphery of your mind.

Many of us have actually fallen into a pattern of unconsciously hurrying through our lives. As we rush through life, we do not see the world around us or within us, which is impacting our health and our happiness. Take a short time to focus your mind on just one thing, you will be surprised at how this can help improve your day.

If you are being mindful of your thoughts, feelings and emotions, then you have the opportunity to no longer end up being lost in these aspects, and then have the chance to choose how to respond or act. Try to take the seat as the active observer, by viewing your thoughts and emotions from the outside looking in. This will help to improve your awareness, allowing you the opportunity to pause your thinking, then choose to change your way of thinking or respond differently.