The Art of Being Present: 5 Mindfulness Practices for Beginners

When it comes to releasing stress, anxiety and negativity, there’s no better practice than mindfulness.

Living mindfully is not just about basking in a peaceful meditation practice, it’s also about incorporating mindful awareness into your everyday life. Even the most mundane activities can become mindful if you allow them to be.

Mindfulness is a practice that can greatly benefit you, not only in the present moment, but also in the future. When you practice mindfulness, you train my mind and body to come back to the present moment and release any feelings of stress and anxiety. This can positively impact the rest of your day and allow you to view life from a new perspective.

Practicing mindfulness can also help you to gain a greater awareness of yourself and the world around you. So, if you’re looking for a practice that can help encourage peace and self-discovery, mindfulness is the perfect tool for you!

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How do you practice mindfulness?

The great thing about mindfulness is that it can be practiced anywhere. Living mindfully is ultimately about being fully aware and present in the moment in order to fully appreciate and enjoy the life you currently have.

Even when things get difficult, mindfulness can offer a way to view your problems from a more relaxed and refreshed perspective. This can then help you to release any unnecessary stress and anxiety from your life.

So, if you’re looking to incorporate a little more peace into your day, here are 5 beginner friendly mindfulness practices to help you get started.

1. Mindful breathing

Mindful breathing is one of the best activities to help ground yourself and bring your awareness back to the present moment.

Whenever you find yourself overwhelmed with negative thoughts and emotions, or just need a little boost of inner peace, taking a few moments to engage in mindful breathing can make all the difference between feeling disconnected or aligned with life.

Take a few moments to focus on your breath. Notice how your chest expands with every inhale and collapses with every exhale. Appreciate the feeling of simply existing in your beautiful body and gently release any negative thoughts and emotions.

Mindful breathing is a great way to clear the mind and reduce negativity from the day, so next time you feel yourself overwhelmed by stress or disconnected from the world around you, take some time to pause and appreciate the present moment.

2. Body scan

Another great way to incorporate mindfulness into your life is by conducting a body scan. This mindfulness practice helps to release stress by bringing your awareness back to your body and giving it a thorough mental scan.

Close your eyes and visualize your body, focusing on any tense or tight areas. As you come across those, give loving attention to them and focus on fully relaxing into the present moment. As you relax your mind and body, you’ll feel yourself coming back into a peaceful space of relaxation.

Start from the top of your head and slowly work your way down your body. Imagine a calming white light going down your body and relaxing every inch of yourself. As you reach your feet, embrace this light for a few moments, feeling completely present and grounded in the moment.

Once you’re done, you can gently open your eyes and continue on with your day feeling much more relaxed and refreshed.

3. Mindful eating

Mindful eating is one of the easiest and most enjoyable activity you can do when it comes to cultivating mindfulness in your life.

While practicing mindful eating, you are not just enjoying the food, you are immersing yourself in the sensations and tastes of what you are consuming, fully appreciating it as you do so.

It’s easy to get lost in thought or distracted while eating, but practicing mindfulness during this time is one of the best ways to bring your awareness back to the present moment (and get the most enjoyable experience out of eating your favorite dishes.)

Practicing mindful eating can not only help to connect you back to the present moment but it can also help you to re-connect with your mind and body.

4. Practice gratitude

Gratitude is one of the most uplifting practices you can cultivate in your life. By consciously looking for things to be grateful for, gratitude can help to release mountains of unwanted stress and anxiety from your day.

Whenever something negative happens, try and lift yourself back up by looking for reminders of all the things you have to be thankful for.

Practicing gratitude is also a very simple practice that can be easily incorporated into your daily schedule. It can be done by creating a mental list or writing in a journal, whichever makes you feel the most joyous and appreciative of everything the world has to offer.

5. Mindful walking

The great thing about mindfulness is that it can be done at any place and at any time. For example, simply walking down the hall or up the stairs can become a mindful practice if you let it.

Mindfulness walking is a simple practice but can positively impact the rest of your day, helping you to feel more refreshed and energized.

As you walk, pay attention to each step you take, feeling the sensations as your body takes you forward. Take in the sights and sounds around you with your full attention and enjoy the feeling of simply being alive.

Not only is this a great practice to ground yourself back to the present moment, but it’s also wonderful in helping you to appreciate the beauty of the incredible world around you.

In the end

In the end, cultivating mindfulness is a habit that will ripple positive benefits into the rest of your life.

Incorporate these 5 mindfulness practices into your day and watch as your life become filled with awareness, gratitude and peace. No matter which practice you decide to do, make the conscious decision to be in the present moment. Even just setting the intention to be mindful can bring waves of peace and positivity into your life.

When you need a reminder of all the wonderful things life has to offer, calm your mind, body and soul and allow yourself to be completely present in the moment. The path to inner peace is closer than you think!

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