So, May has arrived… we are nearly halfway through the year! It's going so quickly and with restrictions starting to lift and things slowly getting back to normal life, this also can bring in alot of mixed anxieties and uncertainties too for yourself and people around you. Remember we have been locked away for over a year, so it's normal to feel certain feelings and thoughts while we move through this change once again.
I wanted to share this blog around Mindfulness in May to help motivate you to bring a new habit into your life. That could be being more Mindful or practicing a habit of Mediation both are very different but work together perfectly to help you have a balanced, focused and calmer view on things.
I wanted to put together some ideas / habits you can bring into your everyday life to help you as we move through May… you may only do a few of these or you may want to practice all of them in your everyday life.
I will also share towards the end of the blog a Mindful Meditation around checking in with yourself and giving yourself a moment to arrive and taking a few minutes to ask yourself “how are you feeling today” something that doesn’t always come natural to us.
Just a reminder that:
Mindfulness - is something we BRING into our daily life every day it doesn’t matter where you are it lives outside a Meditation practice.
Meditation - is something we specifically DO and find time to do and create within our day.
So here are a few things to help stay Mindful this month.
1) GET SOME NATURAL SUNLIGHT THIS MAY
To me natural sunlight is one of the most important keys to good health. Due to current restrictions the last few months being kept in doors has stopped us enjoying the outside and sunshine. But finally, we have so many opportunities to get outside more and have those breaks to enjoy natural sunlight. Our bodies need Vitamin D in a Mindful way you can get this by just exposing you face to the Sunlight for around 15min's (Making sure you wear appropriate suncream when necessary, of course).
But we always feel so much better when the sun comes out to say "hello", so get outside this May and embrace the beautiful Spring Sunshine.
“Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun” –
Kahlil Gibran
2) LEARN TO MEDITATE THIS MAY – NEW MONTH – NEW HABITS
Best way to cultivate Mindfulness in everyday life is to start a new habit of Meditation. This is a new month so why not try Meditation. Personally, I love to practice Meditation first thing in the morning this helps put you’re in a present Mindset and prepares you for the day ahead. It sets your mindset to help deal with any upcoming anxieties and worries you may have.
The hardest thing to do in Meditation is showing up!
So why not try a Meditation challenge this month… start by doing 5 minute Meditations every morning and build gradually on to that… you be amazed at how much it will change your mindset and clear your mind the more you practice the better you become and the habit will just become a normal part of your daily life.
"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf" -
Jon Kabat-Zinn
3) PRACTICE GRATITUDE AND COMPASSION
"When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect towards others" - Dalai Lama
This one to me is super important I practice this every day now it's part of my daily life, I will wake up and say 3 things I have been grateful and before I go to bed, I will also say to my -elf 3 things I have been grateful for. They don’t have to be big things at all the smallest ones are the best sometimes they have even more meaning… there are so many things we should be grateful for in our daily life, but negativity can sometimes overstep this.
I also write some of what I’m grateful for down on a stick note or in a Journal which helps you just let go of things in your mind. It's always best to write things down and reflect that way.
"When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect towards others" - Dalai Lama
4) TRY HAVING A MINDFUL DAY NOT LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE
We are so wrapped on our phones sometimes and actually rely on them far to much to make us happy or send us positivity… Waiting for that next text message, phone call, email, social media notification or the next news headline that pops up… it's just constant digital data we don’t always need / and most certainly need a break from.
So, give yourself a break this month... start a new habit around not looking at your phone for a few hours have a break from it. Go for a walk and maybe turn your phone off while you’re out, so your focus is on something else, or things that are around you like nature and talking to friends or family.
"Its ok to stop and rest for a while when, you're tired. You don't always need to match with the pace that the world runs with" - Flowman
5) SET INTENTIONS AND WRITE THEM DOWN!
This could be as simple as “I am going to be Mindful today” or “When I go for a walk today, I’m going to be more mindful and present” or it could be simple things like "Today is going to be good day" just to keep reminding yourself... write it down on a sticky note and stick it somewhere you can see i when you need it.
"Make your intentions clear, the universe does not respond well to uncertainty" - Joe Duncan
These are just a few I wanted to share, which I personally practice every day and I’m actually practicing more Meditation this month, as I didn’t get chance to do as much last month and that's ok accept and let go!.
But as you become more Mindful about things, you may also experience feelings and different emotions. This will naturally happen we are humans it's ok to have these feelings as everyday we are different depending on different situations. You may even feel frustrated and angry and even be hard on yourself from time to time.
But this shouldn't be seen as a problem - it's just how you deal with them which helps. Remember it's all part of your personal journey / experience / growth of Mindfulness notice any areas in your life you could be resisting and need to open up more bring these into your Mindfulness practice.
SO TRY SOMETHING NEW THIS MAY NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL IT IS – IF YOUR THINKING IT, DO IT…
Here is a Meditation for YOU!
This is all about self-connection and giving yourself 5mins to reflect, be present and ask yourself how you are today.
You can do this Meditation in the morning or evening… this particular one is great for starting your day and setting intentions, so maybe plan in 5mins to practice this lovely self reflect Meditation in your morning or evening routine.
As you will see in the video Django my little Border Terrier, wanted to get in on the Meditation too... he often stays with me while I Meditate my little sweetie.
I hope you enjoy this Meditation just as much as i do...and most importantly hope it gives you some clarity and focus for your day.
If you want to know more about Mindfulness and Meditation I have a range of bespoke/private online sessions as well as a range of groups classes which you can book on my website: https://www.beyoubeyoga.co.uk/
If you are looking for anything particular or specific just drop me a email at: beyoubeyoga@outlook.com
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