Mindfulness—Without The Fluff
A simple, two-minute guide to being present.
Mindfulness is often defined as “the awareness that arises by paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” — Jon Kabat Zin
This is a mouthful, and daunting for those new to the practice. Mindfulness is better described as the state of simply ‘noticing things’.
Yes, just noticing things. It really is that simple.
If you are noticing things, you are mindful of them. If you are not noticing things, you are not mindful of them.
So what are you supposed to notice?
Anything: The wind, your thoughts, how you feel, the space between your eyebrows. You can even walk, talk, eat, and listen mindfully.
The breath is one of the most popular anchors. I once heard someone say: “Life starts with a breath and ends with a breath; it must be important.” That stuck with me.
Once you choose something to notice, now you have to focus on it.
Consider this example. First, you choose something to notice, in this case, your breath. It’s best to be specific, so we’ll say the air at your nostrils. Breathe in through your nose, and out through your nose. Notice the cold air flowing…
