4 Mindfulness
Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.
Try using the ‘five senses’ exercise to bring you into the present moment. This exercise involves noticing and naming the following sensory stimuli:
- FIVE things you can see
- FOUR things you can feel
- THREE things you can hear
- TWO things you can smell
- ONE thing you can taste
Activity 2 Test your five senses
Try out this exercise now, and make some notes on your observations below.
Things you can feel
Things you can hear
Things you can smell
Things you can taste
Mindfulness is really attention training
- Mindfulness strengthens the focus area of your brain and can therefore lead to high performance.
- There are many benefits associated with mindfulness for both physical and mental health, especially when undertaken with an attitude of kindness, patience, and gentleness.
- It can slow down thoughts and smooth emotions.
- You can use the activity above to calm yourself, reduce anxiety, and increase concentration on your work.
- Regulating attention leads to becoming more self-aware, building new neurons, and reinforcing the pathways in the brain.
- This leads to putting life and events into perspective.
- A sense of wholeness develops over time with mindfulness.
Documented benefits of mindfulness
stress reduction • clarity and focus • greater resilience • enhanced creativity • improved relationships • improved concentration • rapport and communication • improved health and wellbeing • greater confidence and self-esteem • reduced anxiety and depression • improved work-life balance • greater work satisfaction • memory enhancement • intuitive ability • pain reduction • happiness