Download my amazing FREE therapy e-book on becoming mindful @ www.jordanburness.com/mindfulpathways Social Media: Website/Blog: www.youcounselling.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/you_counselling Facebook: www.facebook.com/youcounselling Twitter: www.twitter.com/you_therapy Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv_i4n5GE7G-DkIaPBgxw_Q?sub_confirmation=1 A therapist's five top tips on mindfulness and how to be more mindful. People who are mindful view the present as a gift. They do not live in the past, because they cannot change it. They do not live in the future, because they can only exist in today. When you are able to be mindful you can be at peace with yourself and you take yourself from a status of “doing” “thinking” “worrying” into a state of “being”. Mindful people are often successful and motivated because they are in control of their present and view it as the most important thing. Use your senses - pay attention to what surrounds you. How does it feel and smell? What does it look like? Does it make a sound and what is that sound like? How does it make you feel? How might it taste? These are things we often take for granted and we do not take the time to simply notice where we are, what we are doing or who we are with. Noticing your surroundings allows you to fully appreciate them Practice gratitude - Make an effort to think of what you are grateful for in your life. Who are you today and why are you grateful for this? If past struggles or people have helped you to become resilient and shaped you into the person you are today…take time to have gratitude for them. When we feel gratitude we often shape our lives and minds in positive ways. We encourage positive thinking and exist in a positive mental space. The present becomes an enjoyable place to be. Meditate - Meditation is not just some crazy eastern practice, it is actually a very accessible tool for everyone to use. Many of the worlds most successful people meditate EVERY DAY. Meditation helps to give us a mantra or a meaning to our day. It clears our minds of clutter and worry and allows us to set an intention for our lives. For example my intention for the day might be “practice kindness” and i would take this into my day. It is important when you meditate not to focus on what your doing wrong. If worries, thoughts or anxiety come into your mind simply notice them, acknowledge them and let them go. It may help to notice how the thoughts make you feel and what happens in your body, but remember to keep breathing deeply through your nose and out through your mouth and focus on your intention. If it helps to do guided meditation using an app, video or recording then use that…as long as you are being mindful and kind to yourself. Get physical - If we are able to be active we are existing in a mindful way by activating our body. We cannot exercise in the past or the future and so by activating your body in the present, we give our minds a chance to focus its energy on the “now”. Exercise has been shown to reduce people’s anxiety and depression because not only does it make us more mindful but it helps to boost endorphins and neurotransmitters in our brain. In many ways getting active can work like an anti depressant. So if you find you are stuck in your thoughts or a cycle of negativity… do the opposite of what you want to do and get active. Living life in the present will help you to begin to think in the present. Accept emotions - Accept your emotions and let them go. It may sound easier said than done…but most people ignore their emotions. If we ignore our emotions it is like leaving a mouldy piece of food in the fridge, shutting the door and expecting the smell to get better. When we accept what we are feeling and confront it we are being mindful. I can speak from experience as someone who has had my own anxiety and panic attacks that anxiety is often a message. It quite often is telling us we feel uncomfortable, we don't feel we are doing what we should be or that right now we are triggered. Instead of ignoring anxiety and trying to make it go away….accept the anxiety and try to decipher the message it is giving you. These are my top tips on being mindful, you can also follow me on instagram at zen.diva and i welcome suggestions for new videos.