The Miracle Of Mindfulness

The Miracle of Mindfulness teaches the ancient Buddhist practice of mindfulness and how living in the present will make you happier.

So what is mindfulness, really? It means making an effort to focus your consciousness on the present at any given time. In other words, you make sure you aren’t busy worrying about the future or dwelling in the past. It might sound simple, but life’s distractions are bombarding us at every turn. The best place to start in centering yourself is with you breathing. 

Our thoughts are constantly being scattered between many different things, but the way you can stop this dispersion is through breathing. Picture our breath as a bridge that connects your consciousness to the right now and bringing the scattered thoughts back to your body again. Breathe lightly but with a long, deep intake. Think about your breathing and how you’re feeling, and take time exhaling. 

For beginners, it’s easiest to practice this conscious breathing while you’re lying down, so you can feel the rise and fall of your stomach that you only achieve with breathing deep. Start small with around 10 breaths so you don’t overexert your lungs early on. With more practice, your lungs will grow stronger. At first, your inhalations might be shorter than exhalations, but as you practice, they should start to become a similar length.

Hanh recommends devoting at least one day a week to mindfulness practice. Yes, a whole day might sound like a lot to you. But Hanh reminds us that if we don’t make an effort to carve out time for ourselves, we will get lost in the whirlwind of stress that life brings. So to be more productive, set aside time in your life for mindfulness. Start by choosing a day of every week, and stick to that day. By making a routine out of it, you will build a healthy habit of mindfulness. Remind yourself that it is your day of mindfulness, and when you wake up, breathe slow and deep breaths before getting up. Concentrate on each morning task you do with calmness and set aside time for a relaxing bath. Do housework without hesitating and focus on your tasks mindfully and with a positive attitude. Try to stay as quiet as you can by not talking or listening to media so you can keep your mind focused on what you are doing. Enjoy tea in the afternoon and relax by doing something you can enjoy such as gardening. In the evening Hanh suggests reading Buddhist scriptures and writing letters to friends. It doesn’t have to be this, but the point is to spend time doing things you enjoy that you don’t usually have time…