Here’s How You Can Practise Mindful Meditation

Hazelle

What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present and aware of where we are and what we’re doing. It also means that we are in a calm state, where we are not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindful meditation thus helps us to incorporate mindfulness as a sustainable habit, and also allows us to treat ourselves with kindness and gratitude.

Practicing mindfulness can come in different forms, whether it be doing daily tasks in a more mindful manner, or starting the day with a meditation routine. In this article, we will be sharing 5 basic steps to help you learn how to meditate.

1. Dedicate time to meditation

The first step of the process is to indeed set aside a fixed amount of time just for this meditation exercise. Make it a part of your routine, for example, by doing it every morning before getting on with the day. It need not be long, especially if you are just starting out – 5 to 10 minutes can be a good place to begin. Treat this period of time as sacred and free from distractions; focus only on this exercise.

2. Find a quiet space

One way in which you can free yourself from distraction is to find a quiet and safe space. You could do this on your bed, or in a special comfortable corner in your home – anywhere that makes you feel calm. This can help you to more readily be in tune with your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.

3. The meditation

You can start by either closing your eyes or dropping your gaze downwards, and also shaking out all the tension in your limbs. Then, take in a few slow, deep breaths. After about 6 breaths, start being aware of your bodily sensations: think about how the air is traveling through your body first through the nostrils and mouth before circulating past the throat and diaphragm.

During this time, focus on your breathing pattern.

4. Allow your mind to wander

A common misconception is when we meditate, we have to keep an empty mind and be free from wandering thoughts – however, this is in fact not true! While you should stay focused on meditation, you should not judge any wandering thoughts should they arise or blame yourself for a lack of focus. Instead, you should allow it to naturally happen and free yourself from judgment, then slowly direct your focus back to your breath.

5. Resuming your day

At the end, when you’re ready, gently open your eyes or look up, and take a moment to observe your environment. Notice any sounds and sights, think about how your body feels and what are your present thoughts and emotions. After which, you will find yourself in a better headspace to decide your natural course for the rest of the day.

Mindful meditation may seem difficult at first, especially when we are usually overwhelmed by different sources of sensory information and distractions. However, with continued commitment you will find it easier to meditate for longer periods of time and with greater focus!

About Hazelle

Chief trainer of The Moneyball Investors Playbook program and founder of The Joyful Investors, a financial education firm that seeks to help avid investors learn to invest better and make the journey a joyful one. I graduated with a first class honors in Bachelor of Accountancy from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and started my auditing career in one of the Big Four. I believe that once we know how to build our wealth sustainably, we can then live our best lives ever.