“This is the real secret of life – to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now.” — Alan Watts
Mindfulness is defined as a technique in which you focus your full attention only on the present, experiencing thoughts, feelings, and sensations but not judging them. It is a moment by moment awareness of your body, mind, emotions, and environment without judgement.
It involves slowing down, living in the moment, and paying attention to your actions. Mindfulness may be used to reduce stress, improve health and well-being, and it may even help alleviate physical pain.
Practicing mindfulness is also a form of self-care. Self care involves focusing on and taking care of yourself; supporting your health and well-being so you can do what you want and need to do every day, and it allows you to help and care for others as well.
To start practicing mindfulness, engage in activities that help you tune out and raise awareness.
5 activities you can use to bring more mindfulness into your life
- Exercise
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Eating (Read more about it HERE)
- Creative arts
Why creative arts? While you are engaged in a creative act it is easy to “get lost” in it. Your mind will naturally focus on what you are doing and you’ll automatically have a heightened sense of awareness to the here and now.
Plus, when you are in the creative process you are using one or more of your senses. The senses can be used as a form of healing. Colors and smells have the ability to influence how you feel. Yellow is uplifting, blue is calming, and orange is energizing. Scents are the fastest way to reach the limbic system of the brain, the mood center. Uplifting scents include lemon, orange, grapefruit, and tangerine.
A creative mindfulness practices I love is floral arranging. One reason to use flowers to practice mindfulness is that studies show flowers can positively affect emotional health. According to a study done by Rutgers University, flowers can lift your spirits and have a positive effect on how you feel. To learn more click HERE.
A woman who attended a guided mindfulness with fresh flowers class I taught said, “This is the best mindfulness practice I’ve ever done.”
Keep an eye on upcoming events and workshops as we offer a variety of Floral Healing classes throughout the year.
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Note: There may be affiliate links in this post. • I am not a doctor. All information is for educational use only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.
