One Minute To Mindfulness

Why you should start meditating today

Mindfulness isn’t about emptying your mind of thoughts — that’s impossible.

It’s about observing the contents of consciousness as they are, for what they are, right now.

Without judgement, filter, or labels.

We observe thoughts, but don’t identify with them.

How to practice mindfulness meditation

1: set a timer, take a seat and close your eyes.
2: draw your attention to the sensations of the breath at the nose.
3: if your attention wanders, gently acknowledge it and return your focus back to the breath.
4: repeat for the duration of the session.
5: meditate daily.

When we meditate, we are training the ability to recognise thoughts without immediately identifying with them.

• ‘I am sad’ becomes ‘sadness is present’.
• We notice moods before we fall into them.
• We recognise when we are stuck in rumination loops and can better escape them.
• We are less impulsive or prone to addictions as we can recognise the wave of craving in real time.

From the book ‘Mindfulness: A guidebook to the present moment’ – out now as a paperback, eBook and audio.