The Simplest Method to Practice Mindfulness

This is the easiest, simplest method you can do anytime anywhere to stay in the NOW!

I have been practicing mindfulness on and off for over ten years now. I am a Buddhist so I learned this practice since I was young.

This method is so good and effective for beginners as well as for experienced practitioners.

I used to practice more complicated methods but at the end of the day, I have to come back to this simple method to practice mindfulness because it is easier and more effective.

This method is so simple that you can learn it now and try it now. You don’t need any fancy tools or clothes or any other places.

The principle of being in the now is that you must be able to be in the now anytime anywhere. Be present no matter whether you’re working, playing with kids, talking with clients, or even writing. The art of being in the now is that you must be in the now no matter what you do.

This method can help us to be in the now anytime anywhere. You can learn it, practice it, master it. Once you are familiar with the method, you can practice it more often. The more you do it, the more it becomes second nature to you.

The method is so simple that you don’t need anything else. You don’t need to be in a quiet space. If you read this post at work, you can practice this method wherever you are right away.

Here’s how I do it:

Just watch your breath.

When you inhale, focus on the air that goes through your nose, through your lungs, to your stomach.

You can say to yourself “inhale” or “breathe in” or “I am inhaling”. Sometimes when my mind is so confusing, I’d like to say long sentences such as “When I inhale, I know that I’m inhaling”.

When you exhale, focus on the air that goes through your nose, through your lungs, to your stomach.

You can say to yourself “exhale” or “breathe out” or “I am exhaling”. Sometimes when my mind is so confusing, I’d like to say long sentences such as “When I exhale, I know that I’m exhaling”.

You can say it out loud at first to calm your mind but normally I’d like to just say it in my head so nobody knows what I’m doing.

You can just simply watch your breath without saying anything. I’d like to watch my breath without saying anything when I can see or feel my breath very clearly.

Normally when you have a lot on your mind, when your mind is so confusing, you can’t see your breath clearly because there are too many distractions in your head. So, it’s not easy to practice this technique just to watch the breath.

Saying “inhale” and “exhale” to yourself helps guide you to be mindful of your breath. Your mind will calm down and shift its focus from outside to inside.

This is the simplest method you can do to be mindful, to be present, to be in the now.

When you start to practice this method, it’s not going to be easy.

If you read this far and already tried it. Thank you.

If you find it easy to focus on your breath, that’s great, you must keep practicing.

If you find it difficult to focus on your breath at first, it’s ok. Keep practicing, it will get easier. I promise you.

How often should you do this?

How long should you do this?

Get back to your breath all day long. When you have nothing to do, watch your breath. When you are waiting for something, watch your breath. When you are traveling, watch your breath. Just do it as often as you can.

When you start practicing this method, you would only focus on your breath without doing anything else. For instance, you must stop reading this post and focus on your breath instead. You can be mindful at one thing at a time.

However, the core of being mindful is that you must be aware of your action, your movement, not just your breath.

As you progress, you will be able to be mindful automatically with your actions, your thoughts, your movement.

When you practice mindfulness long enough, being mindful becomes automatic.

Yes, you can be mindful automatically. Your mind can help you do that. But first, you must re-direct your mind to be more mindful. You must train your mind to shift its focus inward.

One last note…

Do not over-complicate this.

Just watch your breath. Focus on your breath. No matter what you are doing. Remember to focus on your breath.

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