What Is Mindfulness? 7 Myths About Mindfulness You Need To Know

7 Myths About Mindfulness You Need To Know – I am sure you have heard at least one of these too.

What do you do while drinking your morning coffee? Do you think about your to-do list or what happened yesterday? It is said that most precious moments are small everyday moments that we fail to notice and appreciate.

But there are some ways that help you do that, practicing mindfulness in your everyday life being one of them.

If you are wondering what mindfulness is, I like to think it as an activity to stay in the moment, enjoying and appreciating those with your whole heart.

Mindfulness is when you focus entirely on the experience. You notice the comfort of the cup in your hands, you enjoy the little things happening around you and the taste with each sip you take. That’s mindfulness for me.

PS – “Mindfulness” has becoming a buzz word that many people and brands using recently. They often include feel-good slogan but true mindfulness isn’t about escape or indulgence — it’s about conscious engagement with life as it is. And we should be cautious about it.

What Are The Other Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness? 

1) If you live in the past or think about the future, mindfulness practice brings your attention to the present (because ultimately, it’s the only thing we can control). 

2) Mindfulness is also great if you find it hard to concentrate on your everyday task. 

3) Mindfulness helps you become more aware of your emotions, so you can manage them more effectively.

4) Practicing mindfulness can also help you calm a racing mind. (best if you find it hard to fall asleep at night). 

What Is Mindfulness? Myths About Mindfulness You Need To Know

Mindfulness is about clearing the mind

Do you focus on clearing your thoughts during the mindful practice? I think that’s how mindfulness is perceived by most people. But it is not about it. 

Mindfulness is about observing thoughts and feelings as they come and go, rather than pushing them away.

And it helps you create a more kind and compassionate relationship with yourself.

Mindfulness is religious

No matter what your religion is or even if you believe in none. You can still benefit from this practice. There is no particular way that you have to follow or there are no rules as such.

Mindfulness is easy and always relaxing

Sometimes it’s extremely hard to even sit with yourself for a couple of minutes and observe your thoughts. When you are feeling anxious, worrying about things that’s happening around you- your career is not working out the way you want and your relationships are falling apart when you need them the most.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our lives in a way that we just want to disappear from the situation as we think we won’t be able to face that. 

And the funny part is when you are feeling all those emotions at once that is making you overwhelmed, that’s exactly when you need mindfulness in your life even more.

Mindfulness is about being calm all the time 

Or when you practice mindfulness, you don’t get angry. I have heard this one quite a few times. Isn’t it a natural emotion to express anger? 

Mindfulness doesn’t suppress your emotions but what mindfulness does is it helps and teaches you how to react to your emotions when you get them. 

Here is how to make your no distraction environment.

Mindfulness is about being in the present moment (All The Time)

Mindfulness is NOT just about being in the present moment, especially not all the time. It is an unrealistic expectation that we pose on ourselves.

It is rather noticing and accepting whatever thoughts and feelings come up, even if they’re from the past or the future. It’s totally normal for our minds to wander. 

Mindfulness helps you to observe these thoughts without judging yourself. Instead of trying to push them away, we learn to deal with them while being kind to ourselves. (If you are new, it takes time. In the beginning it feels uncomfortable to stay with your thoughts if they are not positive).

When you practice mindfulness, you’re not trying to ignore everything that’s happening around you, you are simply focusing on what is going on inside you. It’s about being aware of all those thoughts and feelings that are making you feel the way you are feeling right now. 

You can think about past experiences to learn from them or plan for the future without getting anxious. This awareness helps you understand yourself better.

You need to meditate for hours to be mindful

I am sure we all have heard this one many many times. The reality is, you don’t need hours in the morning to practice mindfulness. You can simply add mindfulness in your everyday routine no matter what you do. Let me explain. 

Whether you’re brushing your teeth, traveling in a bus or even just sitting quietly for a couple of minutes, those are all your time to be mindful by focusing on how you are feeling in the moment or simply observing your surroundings.

There are so many beautiful things around us that we barely notice because we live in our mind most of the time. 

✅PS – If you like to do any mindful activity, I can recommend this mindful coloring book.

Mindfulness is about temporarily ignoring your issue

When you are observing your thoughts and paying attention, you become aware of your issues and the chances are you will find ways to solve them even faster as your mind is calm and clear enough to think clearly. So in reality, you are NOT ignoring your issues or running away from your situation, you are preparing yourself to face them.

So, those were some of the misconceptions I hear over and over again. I hope that clears things out for you. And if you are wondering how you can incorporate mindfulness in your everyday life, here are some ways to try.

What Are Some Activities You Can Do Mindfully (In Your Everyday Life) 

• 1) Mindful cooking 
• 2) Mindful eating 
• 3) Mindful working
• 4) Mindful walking and your other everyday tasks.

Other mindfulness posts you might find helpful: Mindful Activities For a Social Media Detox Challenge (Practical Guide).

Don’t forget to grab your mindfulness living planner below.

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