#SpreadTheLove
The Art of Mindfulness
There’s been a lot in the press over recent years about the value of practicing Mindfulness, and what better time to give that some attention than now, when life is nothing but one hectic mad rush with parties to go to, trees to put up, fairy lights to fix? We barely have enough time to think, never mind stop thinking!
Christmas has always been referred to as the season of peace and good will. Well we think the good will bit seems to be working, but what about the peaceful stuff?
Our peace loving Party Animal, Karma Llama, is a big fan of Mindfulness practice. He says the best bit is you can’t help but feel more peaceful after you’ve done it. He also says he loves it because it doesn’t take long, or involve headstands (he does yoga too).
Some people go the whole hog and meditate for hours but, as Karma Llama says, it doesn’t need to take long. Even if you stop, take a breath, look up at the sky for a minute and observe how fast the clouds are moving, that’s a mindful moment right there. It’s all about staying in the here and now rather than just going with the flow of your racing brain. The best bit about it is the more you do it, the easier it gets.
We’ve loved the art of Mindfulness for a long time. The whole foundation of it is why Disco Beads exists! Our ethos in life is to live in the moment, do what we love, and love what we do, and Mindfulness is at the heart of all of that. We even put together a range dedicated to it. Beading has been used in meditation for centuries, and those out there who’ve ever tried it will know why.
Did you also know that Mindfulness is actually a totally natural state for us? Our brains were originally built to take more time on things generally, so stepping out of your hectic day for a minute is just going back to your roots.
A really good introduction to the practice is called 'The Raisin Exercise'. Nope, you’re not seeing things. It does involve an actual raisin. Perfect for this time of year!
All you have to do is get close and personal with one, and it’s amazing what comes up when you calmly stop, look, and accept whatever you observe. So, before you put that last one into the cake mix, why not give it a go? Just hold the raisin in your hand and ask yourself:
- How does the raisin look?
- What does it feel like to touch?
- What does it smell like?
- What does it taste like?
Because you’re doing this with something so small that we’d never normally give a second glance, it’s a great exercise for the brain in slowing down. If nothing else, you’ll never look at a raisin in the same light again. I know I haven’t!
To help you find your inner calm, a soothing colour to have with you is blue, and we’re all over blue this month. You can read more here .
So, stop, take a deep breath and give it a try. We promise you won’t regret it!
Love
Lisa
x
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