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Mindfulness in Everyday Life

Posted By : Administrator Monday 10 Oct, 2016
Mindfulness in Everyday Life


Written By Sonali Patnaik


‘We can make our minds so like still water that beings gather about us, that they may see, it may be, their own images, and so live for a moment with a clearer, perhaps even with a fiercer life because of our quiet’ – William Butler Yeats                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

The concept of mindfulness traces its origin to the 2500-year-old Buddhist philosophy. The main characteristics of mindfulness are—focusing on your present and observing your thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations from a distance without analyzing whether they are good or bad. In my opinion, it is the best antidote to the stressors of our times.

In our busy world, we plan our day while commuting to work and at the same time listening to music. In this daily hustle and bustle, we lose sight of what we’re doing in the moment and how we’re feeling.

Practicing mindfulness not only improves mental and physical health but involves concentration and acceptance, i.e., concentrating on our thoughts and sensations, and accepting those thoughts and sensation without any judgment.

At times we may face situations where we feel low, upset about what someone said to us, or perhaps gets anxious about a meeting. In these situations, our thoughts are often out of control. Mindfulness may help in all these situations i.e., paying attention to what is happening right now, right before our eyes and ears and other senses, including the internal ones.

Just as we can improve physical fitness through regular exercise, we can develop mindfulness through deliberate mental practices.


The following are some techniques that can be practiced whenever and wherever you like:

1. •    Mindfulness Meditation: Sit quietly and focus on your breathing. Allow thoughts to come and go without any judgment and return to focus on your breath and mantra.

2. •    Mindfulness Walking: While walking, concentrate on the footsteps and then feel the ground under your feet. Observe your surroundings; stay in THE PRESENT. Let your thoughts go, just look at the sky, the view and the other people walking around. Feel the wind, the temperature on your skin and enjoy every moment.

3. In most situations, growth and insight come from dealing with adversity. By practicing mindfulness, these adversities are embraced as opportunities for growth.  

Eight Hundred years ago, the Sufi Poet Rumi expressed this beautifully in the following poem:

THE GUEST HOUSE

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival
A joy, depression, meanness

Welcome & entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
Who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture.

Still, treat every guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight

The dark thought, the shame, the malice
Meet them at the door laughing & invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
Because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.


  1. Catex Health is a large network of mental health experts who are available 24x7 for your support and will ensure confidential, dignified and empowering support for any sort of emotional distress. Ms. Sonali Patnaik is a member of our network. Click here to reach out to her or call +91 9911775626.

About the Author

Ms. Sonali Patnaik is a clinical psychologist who has trained at prestigious institutes like Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences, Gujrat Forensic Science University and Jamia Milia Islamia, Ms. Sonali is an expert in the field of Work- Life Balance and Job related issues. She has been associated with Tech Mahindra for over 2 years, where she provides counselling services to the employees and their family members. Ms. Sonali is a Trainer for Workshops and seminars and also holds experience in dealing with children with special needs. Through her clinical work she has carved a niche in the domains of Stress Management, Team Building and Performance, Work related issues and Work- Life Balance.


REFERENCES: 


1. •    www.helpguide.org/harvard/mindfulness.htm

2. •    www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/10.mindfulnessineverydaylife.pdf

3. •    www.working-well.org/articles/pdf/mindfulness.pdf

4. •    www.stillmind.com.au/Documents/Everyday%20Mindfulness.pdf