Mindfulness is not something complicated. It is an intrinsic quality of the innate awareness we are. We loose the ability to be mindful when we identify with structures, ideas from the past, and habits that form our sense of self. We alienate ourselves from a basic sense of being, a simplicity of being that goes beyond the habituated fixated self we normally identify with or believe we are.

Everyday is an opportunity to be more mindful. Often there are many distractions, or our attention gets scattered, or we think we just need to get this one more thing done before we can allow ourselves to pay attention to ourselves and let go.

In our ordinary state of awareness any simple moment can be a doorway back to return to ourselves. Every time we do pay attention to ourselves in a simple, uncomplicated way, it has an accumulative effect and can help us learn to be more free from our tendencies and not get caught up in stressful experiences rushing towards certain outcomes.

"Mindfulness is an openness to the moment, paying attention to what is happening, simply, without adding anything to the moment, and without judgment and with full attention."

It is the ability of the mind to remain focused and to be still and calm without interfering with the momentary experience.

Some tips to be more mindful:

1. Bring awareness to your body, sensations and breath.

Mindfulness is about returning to yourself. It is bringing the scattered awareness back into the moment and returning to the center of yourself. It is helpful to become aware of your breathing and to make contact with yourself.

2. Learn about your stress patterns and habitual tendencies.

All of us have different habits. How we relate to a situation is influenced by our beliefs, emotional states, and resourcefulness. Mindfulness helps us to be present and grounded in the moment. It will help us to make choices based on our inner wisdom rather than on emotional states that will impact us and have consequences for people around us and our action in the moment.

3. Pay attention and appreciate simple everyday activities.

Perhaps you have heard the saying "How you do anything is how you do everything". How we engage in simple everyday activities says a lot about how we relate to ourselves and the world around us. Appreciating the simple act of walking, drinking tea, or washing the dishes can be a doorway into the wonder of your own being.

4. Get absorbed in a simple task.

When you don't interfere with your experience, and you become very mindful, the experience of a separation of the one that is mindful and the object of mindfulness disappears. There is only the moment and the absorption of yourself in it. It happens sometimes when we are engaged in something deeply, and the perception of time disappears.

5. Prioritize and avoid distractions.

If we clarify our values it will help to prioritize our most essential action items, and how to stay aligned to what is important throughout the day. Mindful living is about finding ways to recognize our 'energy zappers' and to discern and cut through distraction.

6. Learn about your internal commentary.

With a constant chatter in our mind, it is very challenging to get in touch with a calm, settled attention focus in the present moment. It is important to work with our inner critic so that we can return to a state of allowing and innate relaxation.

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