Mindfulness is paying attention in the present moment. That’s it. It sounds simple, but if you think back to the last 60 minutes and how frequently you were distracted, you may be surprised. Maybe you’re very aware of this struggle and are looking to overcome it. The good news is that developing mindfulness is easy. However, it takes practice like everything else useful in life. The benefits of mindfulness are immense. Here’s a few that are quickly noticed or experienced:

 

• Listening more attentively in conversations.

• Feeling relaxed when stressed.

• Being more self-aware.

 

If you can experience even one or two of these advantages, it will make a positive change in your life, both professionally and personally. Mindfulness is so effective, it is considered an evidence based treatment. This means it is used in psychotherapy and has shown positive effects that are scientifically supported to treat conditions like anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and more.

 

Mindfulness has a Zen-like framework to it because it is essentially doing nothing, and paying attention to breathing in and breathing out for several minutes. Initially, people feel restless (myself included), or believe they simply cannot do it. That’s not true. It’s really just a matter of practice. Start with 2 minutes, and go from there. You can do it anywhere, anytime, for free! There are many meditation/mindfulness apps that allow you to practice. My personal favorite is Insight Timer.

 

The Exercise: Read The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Naht Han: