Mindful Moments | Simply Notice

Life is busy. Your days are busy. Your mind is busy.

It can feel like a lot or even too much.

Mindfulness allows us to be present, pause and when we are ready to be proactive towards choosing our next right action.

It begins with noticing what is going on around us. It continues with noticing what is going on with in yo and paying attention to what you are feeling physically, emotionally, and mentally.

In this short Mindful Moment you will be begin to simply notice what is going on around you and it is a grounding practice that you can use through out your day to feel more present in your body.

This is one mindfulness practice that you can use whenever you need to feel more present in your body or to calm your mind in stressful moments.

If you are wanting more Mindful Moments come back next week for another. If you are looking to work with a therapist in Tennessee then contact Jessica by filling out this form.

Mindful Moments - Your One Wild and Precious life

Mindfulness is defined by “Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.”

You may already have a mindfulness practice or this may be a fairly new concept, but I continue to be reminded how mindfulness or even mindful moments improve my mood. I will be offering few some mindful moments on my blog to give you a break to reconnect to your mind, thoughts, and body.

This week’s moment is more of a question that you way want to use a reflection point to journal, share your thoughts with a dear friend, or your own therapist.

If you are looking for more mindful moments then check back next Monday for a new video.

Five Free Mindfulness Practices to Build Self-Compassion

"I need more coping skills to handle _________." This sentence is the one I hear most often when potential clients call my office. Almost every woman I speak with fills in that blank differently. However, the coping skills I offer to them often look the same because some skills are relevant to a variety of difficult life situations. One of the skills I often offer to clients is Mindful Self-Compassion.

This skill is a specific type of mindfulness. If you are unfamiliar with this word, then here is a definition: Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to what is happening around you and within you. It is a proven coping skill to effectively help with stress relief, improve quality of life, become less emotionally reactive, and increase relationship satisfaction. 

If you are looking for a way to get started trying out this practice, then I recommend the FREE Insight Timer app. It offers a variety of guided mindfulness meditations. Did I mention it’s free? 

One of the most popular kinds of mindfulness with researchers and clinicians is Mindful Self-Compassion. Kristin Neff, a self-compassion researcher and author, explains that many people confuse this practice with self-pity, self-indulgence, or self-esteem. These understandings all miss the point. A better definition of Mindful Self-Compassion is: treating yourselves with kindness during moments of difficulty or suffering. I often recommend this practice to clients because it can increase life satisfaction, as well as decreased depression, anxiety and stress. 

If you are looking for a way to get started with this type of mindfulness practice, then here are a few of my favorite self-compassion meditations that can help you using the Insight Timer App….

Lisa Abramson - Five Minutes of Self-Compassion - 04:15
Kristin Neff - Self-Compassion Break - 05:20
Sharon Salzberg Lovingkindness Meditation · 15:04
Kristin Neff - Working With Emotions in the Body: Soften, Soothe, Allow - 16:01
Kristin Neff - Compassionate Body Scan - 23:55

Any mindful practice you begin to implement will feel new and different. But stay with it and see where it takes you. What I have found with my clients is mindfulness exercises are a great in giving you a new way to handle your "_________."

If you are in Nashville and need more support with handing your "_________" then contact Jessica for a free fifteen-minute phone consultation.