Prevention

Mindfulness

Your life is probably jam-packed. You could be juggling work, children, a partner and a home. It’s a good time to adopt the practice of mindfulness, says Dr Russ Harris, author of The Confidence Gap ($29.95; Penguin). Consciously focusing your awareness on the here and now can help you deal with life’s challenges and cope more easily. Harris suggests working through a process that he calls NAME.

Notice your feelings: work out where they are in your body and how they feel. Acknowledge your feelings: say something like “I’m noticing anger or fear”. Remind yourself that you are not your feelings. Make room for your feelings: breathe deeply into them. Expand awareness: observe what you feel and where you’re holding it in your body. Stay engaged with the world around you, noticing what you see, hear, smell, taste and touch.

Jun 21, 2012