We are rarely left alone with our own minds. Television, smart phones and billboards distract us from our thoughts. It is as though we have become fearful of peacefulness and ourselves and are therefore rarely present in our own minds. How many of us wake up and the first thing we do is check our phones and social media pages? Scrolling through an endless stream of pointless shit. As our knowledge of what our friends and favourite celebrities are doing is expanding it seems as though our understanding of ourselves is decreasing.
Consider this quote written by the great Greek philosopher Aristotle “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Basically understanding the world begins with understanding yourself. One of the best ways of getting to know yourself is through meditation, particularly the meditative practise of mindfulness.
Mindfulness is about being present and focusing on the beauty of life itself. There are a number of different ways to practise mindfulness, a quick google search will provide you with an endless stream. For me I like to sit back and think about how lucky I am to be alive right now on this earth at this moment. I focus on the beauty of life, the nature surrounding me and feel myself reconnect and intertwine with the earth. Scientist have shown that an 8 week period of mindful meditation of around 40-45 minutes a day can have a number of beneficial effects including increase in concentration and overall well-being[1]. I will be writing an article about the scientific benefits within the next couple of weeks. But for now, take some time to practise some mindfulness. It is genuinely life changing.
[1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/feeling-it/201309/20-scientific-reasons-start-meditating-today