Welcome to Mindful March!

I am so happy to have you here and on this short but transformative journey.  In the next 31 days, you are going to be witnessing some massive changes in your outlook and overall happiness.  And all you have to do is follow the daily guidance on this blog and put the simple steps into action. No mess, no fuss. Just nice, simple actions each day to get you to a better, happier place.  Sound good?  Great then let’s continue!

What is mindfulness?

It’s a phrase that’s becoming increasingly popular, but what does it actually mean?  Mindfulness is really just another word for awareness. It’s just about being aware of your thoughts, and not in a controlling ‘OMG I can’t believe I thought that horrible thought’ kind of way but in a more gentle ‘huh, that’s an interesting thought, I wonder where that came from’.  It really is as simple as noticing the thought and detaching any emotion from it.  Don’t beat yourself up, get into a navel-gazing spiral or get emotional about it… it’s just a thought and your thoughts can be changed.

Now I know this probably feels a bit like a frontal lobotomy when you start doing this as you are literally rewiring your brain with new ways of thinking as you notice your thoughts each day but trust me it gets easier and it’s definitely worth the effort!

Why is mindfulness so important?

It’s no coincidence that the popularity of mindfulness has risen alongside the rise in depression, as people search more and more for solutions to the pressures of modern day life, mindfulness is a natural and wise choice especially if you are looking to steer clear of the traditional routes used by GP’s. Mindfulness has been repeatedly shown to help:

1. improve concentration
2. reduce stress
3. improve effective communication
4. improve overall health and well being

Plus it’s not exactly hard to do, but what it does require is patience and practice.  It is my wish that following this month of mindful practice you’ll truly appreciate how simple and effective mindfulness can be in your life.  So let’s begin! Here is your task for today:

Day 1 – Start today by appreciating that you’re alive and have a body

Well now that doesn’t sound too difficult does it. But in all truthfulness most of us go about our day to day without even thinking about what our bodies can do, that is until we get sick!  Think about that for a moment, whenever you fall ill you become very aware of all the aches and pains and how difficult it is to do even basic tasks and during those times is when you truly appreciate good health!

But today, what I want you to do is simple – every time you get up or walk around, make a cup of tea or give someone a hug just give yourself a moment to appreciate how truly amazing your body is.  Be thankful for all the simple tasks it can do, from bending down to brushing your teeth – your body is truly a miracle and today you just need to really think about and appreciate this.  As you are doing this throughout the day, you will become more aware of how much of a miracle you truly are.  To be alive, in a body that can do so much without more than a thought from you. Wow when you take a moment to think about it, it can be mind-blowing.

So your task today is simple, appreciate your body and that you’re alive.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s task in this Mindful March Project.

Here’s today’s freebie for you to download!

It’s a phone wallpaper – just right click, save and everytime you look at your phone today you’ll be reminded of your Day 1 task 🙂 ENJOY

DOWNLOAD DAY 1 WALLPAPER

Special thanks go to www.actionforhappiness.org for their amazing work and launching Mindful March.