This is how I practise PATIENCE today on Monday.

Every morning I ask myself - what or who do I need Patience for today?

I often think of myself first, I am kind and patient with myself first!

Choosing this thinking pattern gives me strength and equips me "mentally"

for this day. Tomorrow is still far away and thus I can live today to the fullest.

Then throughout the day, as situations arise, I always practise Patience

first instead of getting upset, impatient etc.

Neuroscience has proven that through Repetition new Thinking Patterns can be

developed. Using the tool of living each day (i.e. practising Patience in the things you

do today) it will become easier to take the step from Depression (living in the past) or Anxiety (living in the future) to LIVING TODAY ... MONDAY ... for example practising Patience.

Best wishes B

By the end of the day I feel good because I have tried my best.

Happy Monday practising Patience

For me, mindfulness is the acknowledgement of my presence here in this time and space. I feel it mostly when I'm meditating, but I also find it in those moments where the sun is one my skin and I feel calm, or my sisters are laughing and I notice just how much I love being with them in this moment, or when I stop to take a photo of a beautiful flower I found.

I might not always be perfect, but the more I practice being mindful the better I am. Learning to be in the now isn't easy but it is important, so I'll keep trying until it comes naturally.

naisy welcome to the forum and this thread.

Thanks for this opening paragragh. You explain mindfulness easily and it makes s4ense.

For me, mindfulness is the acknowledgement of my presence here in this time and space. I feel it mostly when I'm meditating, but I also find it in those moments where the sun is one my skin and I feel calm, or my sisters are laughing and I notice just how much I love being with them in this moment, or when I stop to take a photo of a beautiful flower I found.

Good morning,

this week I will post a "thought for each day" according to my practise on Mindfulness, or simply practising Staying well. I personally am not hung up on the term Mindfulness, it's just a word. What you do each day, the thoughts you nurture it's what counts.

These are the 7 words/qualities I focus on and practise ONE QUALITY each day:

The Focus on Monday is practising Patience

The Focus on Tuesday is practising Courage

Focus on Wednesday practising Healing
Focus on Thursday practising Faithfulness
Focus on Friday practising Caring
Focus on Saturday practising Stillness
Focus on Sunday practising Balance

So, how do you practise Courage?

I just ask myself: "What do I need courage for today" for example

- keeping my appointment with my friend and not cancelling as I have often done before

- making my bed

- ringing a few people I haven't rung for a while and listen to their story

- ringing somebody who is lonely

- by NOT nurturing ANY thoughts about the future whatsoever

- full fill one outstanding task (push yourself a little)

- make the effort and go outside sitting in the sun

Make your own list for today. Tonight you will feel good about yourself,

pat yourself on your back and say "I did well well today, I know how to be courageous".

Once you have shown courage in little things - you will be able to show courage in Big things".

By visualising how it feels having done any of the above, that will give you the Courage to

actually do them.

Have a strong day practising Courage.

B

Hi Balance....Naisy..Quirky and everyone!

Thankyou Balance for your helpful posts....You are a breath of fresh air sharing your experience on mindfulness as there are many people that choose to read the forums and not post...so you are providing support to more people than you know :-)

Hey Naisy.....Like Quirky mentioned...Welcome! and thankyou for your valued input on mindfulness

Hey Quirky...Your presence and wisdom is Gold...I cant thank you enough

amazing people....

Paul

Good morning Everybody,

Today, Wednesday, HEALING IS! taking place every moment of this day.

Your mind is the biggest tool to guide your thoughts to a healthier place ...

moment by moment.

So, how do you practise HEALING ... simply connect the word HEALING

with your next breath in ... and think "I am healing" and you will start to relax.

If we become conscious even for a moment, that Health is our natural state of

being ... our mind and body will follow. Try to nurture thoughts of health not of sickness.

Discipline is a great healer and your friend, eat when its time to eat,

sleep when its time to sleep, read a uplifting line from a book, and seek the company of a friend

and share how you feel.

These are the 7 words/qualities I focus on and practise ONE QUALITY each day:

The Focus on Monday is practising Patience

The Focus on Tuesday is practising Courage

The Focus on Wednesday practising Healing

Focus on Thursday practising Faithfulness
Focus on Friday practising Caring
Focus on Saturday practising Stillness
Focus on Sunday practising Balance

Have a really good day acknowledging the health you do have

B

PS: Thank you so much Paul for your feedback - it means the world to me

What is mindfulness?

For me it is being present in the moment, being aware and engaged with what is happening around you, which can mean a lot of different things in different circumstances and I use it in different ways during the day. for example:

• If I am out riding my bike around the river then I look out for interesting things that are happening around me, which might be birds flying or perched somewhere, dolphins in the river, sunrise colours, reflection and people doing things (like bubble guys, who make big soap bubbles early in the morning).
• Stopping when you see something interesting.
• I am involved in Toastmasters so when someone is speaking really paying attention to what they are saying and how they are saying it, even when you may not be that interested in the topic.
• Avoiding multi-tasking. I have found that multi-tasking at work, etc almost taught my brain to want to always want to being doing multiple things so that when you wanted to be meditating for example, it was really hard to not be wanting to be thinking about a bunch of other things, and the same when you were talking to people.

My thoughts.

Gav

Good morning Community,

Thursday is an opportunity to "nurture who nurtures you".

Believing in source energy, a power greater than ourselves,

provides the opportunity to simply pass on today's challenges

and to sit back trusting that the Universe WILL sort everything

according to Divine Order.

Source energy can be found in many things, i.e.

nature, music, serendipity etc and can be expressed through Gratitude.

***

These are the 7 words/qualities I focus on and I practise ONE QUALITY each day:

The Focus on Monday is practising Patience

The Focus on Tuesday is practising Courage

The Focus on Wednesday practising Healing

The Focus on Thursday is practising Faithfulness

Focus on Friday practising Caring
Focus on Saturday practising Stillness
Focus on Sunday practising Balance

Have a lovely day ...

B

What a sweet calming post to wake up to Balance, thankyou!
I woke up focusing on Gratitude and smiled.

I meditated upon Gratitude whilst I swept my balcony this morning.

I remembered a Buddhist Monk's teachings to us 35y ago. She said you can meditate ANYWHERE doing ANYTHING. Then followed up with "I meditate washing the dishes" and "I meditate when I'm gardening".

So today, instead of jumping to grumbling etc I will endeavor to replace those thoughts with Gratitude.

I have so much to be grateful for and smile when I think of all the beautiful souls on here.

Thankyou for being here. I'm grateful for you all.

Love and bliss
EM

Hi Everyone and thankyou for helping others (people that read the forums) with your valued input

Hey Balance....thankyou for your complimentary post as well as the heartfelt support you provide..If we didnt have new members sharing their experience/asking questions the forums would cease to exist..Great post!

Hey Gav....your support is greatly appreciated and thankyou for the excellent input too! I hear you loud and clear about multi-tasking.....Its the same as using our cell phone when we go to bed....way too much stimuli

Hey ecomama....always a bonus to have you post and thankyou! You are spot on when you mentioned Balance posting such calming posts....Balance is a breath of fresh air here for sure

thankyou amazing people...Happy Friday too!

Paul

Hello all

Balance

what a peaceful post.

I like the days of the week but I think I would need to aim lower.

I hope it is ok I changed your list a little.

Monday practicing tolerance

Tuesday practicing forgiveness of self

Wednesday practicing forgiveness og others

Thursday practicing calmness

Friday practicing humility

Saturday practicing reflecting

Sunday practicing resting

Good Morning,

Caring is such a lovely quality. In my journey I have learnt, that I need to care for myself first.

Caring for yourself first can bring a lot of Healing ... and with Healing comes strength to also

care for somebody else!!

Caring for yourself can mean to identify yourself with and strive for health.

How do you actually do that? Simply think about yourself today and make it a "Me" day mentally,

you could write down what makes you happy, what are your emotional needs, what type of person are you?

Then, when it comes to caring for yourself, you could choose something from this list and DO it on Friday's.

Only you know what your needs are - get to know yourself and then communicate with others, use your imagination.

These are the 7 words/qualities I focus on and I practise ONE QUALITY each day:

The Focus on Monday is practising Patience
The Focus on Tuesday is practising Courage
The Focus on Wednesday is practising Healing
The Focus on Thursday is practising Faithfulness

Focus on Friday is practising Caring

Focus on Saturday practising Stillness
Focus on Sunday practising Balance

Have a lovely Friday ... practising being kind to yourself and somebody else.
B

Hi,

Today Saturday I practise Stillness.

"Let your heart be still, and your mind will follow".

By giving your fears and worries to Your Source Energy

stillness comes. Time spent outside in a park, or in the garden can bring Stillness.

I also speak less on Saturday's, and enjoy other people's conversations more.

These are the 7 words/qualities I focus on and I practise ONE QUALITY each day:

The Focus on Monday is practising Patience
The Focus on Tuesday is practising Courage
The Focus on Wednesday is practising Healing
The Focus on Thursday is practising Faithfulness
Focus on Friday is practising Caring

Focus on Saturday practising Stillness

Focus on Sunday practising Balance

Have a lovely Saturday with moments of Stillness.

B

Hi Everybody,

"Balance can be just one thought away ...".

Balance is the last practice in my Mindfulness Series for the week.

At first I thought "How do you practise Balance" ... and I found it quite difficult.

Then one day I realised, that at the end of the week I had arrived at Balance,

BECAUSE I had practised/contemplated and benefited from the other 6 qualities.

Now Sunday's are always a bit like a celebration because you are already more balanced

than you were on Monday. Its your gift for having pushed through the hard times during your week.

I have found this weekly practise/routine to be like an anchor. It's always there for me to

grab and hang onto when life get's tough. It taught me to live each day,

and focus on the quality of the day instead of worrying.

This is a picture of my mental scales, and by nurturing all other six qualities one each day

... balance can be just one thought away.

B A L A N C E

0 0

0 0

__________ ____________

Patience Faithfulness

Courage Caring

Healing Stillness

======= ========

Have a nice Sunday.
Warm regards B

Hi Everybody,

the picture of my scales made up of words unfortunately did not work out.

My apologies.

Regards B

hi Gambit,

The image of a child banging pots is really helpful -

In hospital we used some Acceptance Commitment Therapy excercises that were actually very similar

Different ways include imaginging your thoughts like leaves on a stream, intrusive guests to a barbeque, or like a 1st grader talking....

In such situations where things come up that are disturbing, we can see that they pass through or we get over it better without entangling.

The leaves on a stream excercise is a lot of fun, you imagine your thoughts passing by, and you pop each thought on a leave than watch it float on...

The child with the pots is also a really clear example of how we can overlook and let go of things at times, for our own sanity, just letting it go.... and then the issue becomes smaller...

Hi Everyone

Hey Balance...thankyou for your ongoing heartfelt contribution...I find 'acceptance' a super valuable tool when it comes to having some peace of mind. It takes time to practice yet calm and true 'acceptance' is wonderful even when we have low level anxiety or depression

Hey Sleepy21!...always great to have you share your experience no matter where you post :-)

Sleepy21 mentioned the benefits of 'Acceptance Commitment Therapy'...this is an excellent point and well worth pursuing when trying achieve some peace of mind

Hey Quirky....thankyou for your valued support and for your list too!

Monday practicing tolerance
Tuesday practicing forgiveness of self
Wednesday practicing forgiveness og others
Thursday practicing calmness
Friday practicing humility
Saturday practicing reflecting
Sunday practicing resting

Thankyou amazing people for helping more people than you know...me included :-)

Paul

Hi Sleepy21,

Couldn't agree more.

I was listening to a youtube video on OCD and when it was described like that it clicked for me. Dont know why, I dont have kids haha.

I like the leaves on a stream exercise aswell.

I have started a new Uni course and I heard a concept recently that very much reminded me of mindfulness.

The concept is about being 'awake' and learning to be 'awake', which is by Dr Kerry Howells, who has also done a lot of research into gratitude and gratitude in learning.

My thought connection to mindfulness is because the idea is about having an intention to do something and you then put your attention into that intention, removing distractions and while you are doing it questioning where your mind is at that moment.

So very much about focussing to be in the moment of what you are doing - similar to mindfulness.

Hi Everyone and thankyou for helping others with your contribution!

Hey Gambit.....always great to have your help....If you want to provide a link or additional information re ' the leaves on a stream exercise' it would be great :-)

Hey GavH....thankyou for your helpful post and your enthusiasm!

GavH mentioned 'The concept is about being 'awake' and learning to be 'awake', which is by Dr Kerry Howells'

my kind thoughts

Paul

Hi all

gavH Is awake the same as being aware or is it different.

For me it is the focus and concentration that helps me clear my mind.

i like to be observant as I can as well.

Hi everyone...New posters/members are always welcome to post too!

Hey Quirky....thankyou for mentioning 'focus and concentration' I havent looked up GavH's book yet

Just a thought....I prefer to be somewhat simple as it reduces óverthinking'

I hope everyone has a great weekend 😊

Hi Everyone,

I just thought of a simple, but practical way of including Mindfulness in your life.

This approach is helpful, in case you need to stay at home more due to isolating.

Just image when you have to do a task, pretend this was your job.

Try to do it really well. THINK about what you are doing - and your focus

will be brought into the now, become the observer of yourself and the action ...

and at that very moment, you won't worry about tomorrow.

You can repeat this process as many times as you have tasks to

do in the day.

You could mentally break up your house or flat into "zones".

When you are about to begin your task, you could go to that particular zone

and do the task until you have finished. And then do the next task.

There are a few benefits with this approach:

1. With ease you are "doing" mindfulness because you have created a zone for doing

particular tasks.

2. You are more likely to finish your task, because you have created a focused zone

for each task. Finishing a task initself makes you feel good.

By the end of the day, you can feel good about yourself because you got lots of tasks

done and you will have lived "today" and not focused on tomorrow.

Warm regards,

B

Balance

your posts are full of information and written clearly.

I as lifting up heavy baskets in the garden and carrying them a long way and I could not help but focus because of the heaviness and the pain.

Just my thoughts maybe the harder or more physical the task the more likely we are to focus on it.

Thanks so much for sharing this information as it is so helpful.

Hi. Newbie here so be kind!

For me, stress is when focus is given to the completed task before it has begun (as distinct from planning and contemplation which help to hone your thoughts).

Negative thoughts of "Once I have finished this..." or "If I can get this done, then..." either inhibit starting, or result in an unsatisfying outcome from inattentive execution of the task itself, or simply the inability to meet unrealistic expectations fabricated in the fiction of the mind (and further bloated by the passage of time).

Exams, career, even relationships, can be like that as they represent a gateway to advancement (or merely the perception of accomplished social norms) more than the integrity of their inherent content.

"In order to achieve, I must do..." is putting the cart before the horse.

"As I do, I will achieve..." will meet your objective and often surpass it.

Try it, next time you rake leaves or wash dishes, to test the theory.

Hi Everyone and a wave to Quirky and Smallwolf ...(new posters are always welcome too!)

Hey Balance......you made a great point when you mentioned having daily task (as in a work focus) Thankyou for sharing your clear experience re mindfulness!

Hey transcribe...great to have you as part of the forum family and thankyou for your great post too! You mentioned many excellent points including....'stress is when focus is given to the completed task before it has begun' I hope you can stick around the forums when and if you choose to do so :-)

Hey Smallwolf Tim....thankyou for your caring and accurate post

Tim mentioned to tranzcrybe 'You dont have to worry about people being (un)kind here - users here are supportive and non-judgemental of each other' Nice1 Tim

I hope everyone is having the best weekend they can

my kindest always....Paul

i was jsut reading your post tranzcribe and wanted to say a big YESSS and AMEN to all you just posted

very helpful post, thank you so much! hope you enjoy and find benefit here on the forums, warm welcome 👏👏👏

Hey Sleepy21

Ditto here...I hope tranzcrybe has the time to be a part of the forums....

Always great to read your wisdom and support Sleepy...and thankyou :-)

Hi Everybody,

It's time to form a new habit.

Focusing to live one day at a time can produce healthy thought patterns.

Living in the now, can prevent anxiety building up. Anxiety is often connected to a future event.

I use a simple diary to help me stay grounded.

At the beginning of the week I write all my important bits into my diary.

The diary shows one week over 2 pages.

Once I have done that, I go back and focus on the current day only.

I focus on that one day, write down all the things I want to do or have to do on that day.

Once I have done the tasks, I tick them off. This gives me a great sense of achievement.

So the humble diary is a tool I use to combat overwhelm and anxiety. This practise gives me

direction and a sense of having achieved something that day.

Then at the end of the week, you can pat yourself on the back for having done well.

However small the effort, they all add up.

Should you sometimes find it hard to start:

Action brings Action.

Warm regards

B