Exercise 4: Mindfulness Cues

In this exercise you focus your attention on your breathing whenever a specific environmental cue occurs. For example, whenever you hear the phone ring, you promptly bring your attention into the present moment and stay focussed on your breath.

Simply choose a cue that works for you. Perhaps you will choose to become mindful every time you look in the mirror. Perhaps it will be every time your hands touch each other. Perhaps it will be every time you hear a bird.

Mindfulness cues are an excellent mindfulness technique that are designed to snap you out of the unconscious “autopilot” state of mind and bring you back into the present moment.

Mindfulness Exercises: Taking it to the Next Level

These mindfulness exercises are designed to develop your ability to stay in the present moment and they are a great way to improve your ability to concentrate. If you practice these exercises, you’ll also find it easier to meditate, as you are strengthening all the right mental muscles in the process.

Ideally, mindfulness is something that you will learn to integrate into all the moments of your daily life.

Take a look at these mindfulness activities and take another step towards a more conscious, enlightened and peaceful experience of life.

The Difference between Concentration and Mindfulness

It is important to realize that there is a difference between mindfulness and concentration. Concentration is important. It helps you to focus your attention on one thing or another, and in this way it helps you to take command of what goes on in your mind. But mindfulness is another step beyond concentration. Mindfulness is a state of awareness. It is “presence” of mind.

Concentration is the tool you use to bring your mind into focus and to close the door on mental chatter, but it’s still up to you to “show up” and be present in the moment.

Taken from http://www.the-guided-meditation-site.com/mindfulness-exercises

When the mountains come into view, that is one of my mindfulness cues to stop, breath, and take in the beauty. Find those environmental cues that bring you back to the present moment.