Being mindful is being present

A key part of the definition of mindfulness is being in the present moment. That means being in the here and now with all our senses and with our mind focused on the experience of now. Research has concluded that we spend approx 50% of our day on autopilot, and most importantly we tend to be less happy on autopilot than being fully present. 

When we are engrossed in our thoughts they often turn negative plus we miss the present moment and what's going on around us. We are also less present to the people around us which can impact on our relationships.

Mindfulness helps us be present, have better relationships, less negative thoughts and emotions and therefore helps us become happier. 

This doesn't mean we have to be fully focused on the here and now 100% of the time. It's good for us to reflect, reminisce and to plan the future on our mind BUT there's a time and a place and it's important that we consciously choose when to concentrate and when to allow autopilot to take over.

 So how do we cultivate presence?

 We aim to start by noticing when we are lost in thought rather than focusing on what's going on around us. 

We can do this through our meditation practice. Meditation is like the gym work to build our mindfulness muscle. To get a taster of meditation start with a short meditation like the one below: Click on the image to go to the meditation.

We can also practice this by carrying out an everyday activity mindfully helps us practice being present and also fully experiencing through all our senses. This skill helps us savour our experiences and also helps us build stronger memories.

 

 If you would like to learn more about mindfulness and being present, you may like our online mindfulness course From Chaos to Calm in 14 Days: Your Mindfulness & Meditation Kickstart. In day one we cover being present, join up now to watch the video lesson.