Most people think of Mindfulness as something they must squeeze into an already full schedule of working, raising children, caring for home etc. In truth, making Mindfulness part of your life is more like a game of connecting the dots, or like a paint-by-numbers kit. As you fill in all the brown areas, then the greens and the blues, a pleasing picture begins to emerge.
Mindfulness is like that. You begin with one small area of your life, let’s say, how you answer the phone. Each time the phone rings, you pause to take three long, slow breaths before you pick it up. You do this for a week or so until it becomes a habit. Then you add another Mindfulness practice, such as mindful eating. Once this way of being present is integrated into your life, you add another.
Question: Why are we doing this?
Answer: To become mindful.
Question: What does that mean?
Answer: It means that you are present and aware for more moments of the day. The pleasing experience of an awakened life begins to emerge.
You will realise that life is not really short. As it completely depends on the richness of your experience. And there is a simple, though not an easy, key to that. Which is,
You observe without judgement.
If you look at something, you pay full attention to it, without letting your thoughts interrupt your visual experience. You simply look at it. That’s all. Similarly, you may close your eyes and focus on the sounds. Listen to each one of them attentively, be it a song or noise from the street. Simply observe it. As you expand this practice, one activity at a time, using one sense at a time and gradually combining your experiences, you are going to experience what we call as Mindfulness.
Kalampedia 