Mindfulness is the basic human abililty to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we're doing and not become overwhelmed or overly reactive to what's going on around us.

Sounds easy doesn't it? It certainly does take some practise but it is more than possible to achieve. We find ourselves spending a large proportion of our lives in 'autopilot' or 'doing mode' Autopilot can be extremely helpful to us in those times of having to react quickly and instinctively such as when danger or a threat presents itself. For instance, we would hope that our 'doing mode' would kick in quickly if we needed to exit a burning building or put the brakes on in the car to avoid upcoming stationary traffic. 

However, when life gets busy and stresses start to rise in our body, this 'autopilot' mode can spill over into our everyday activities meaning that we don't take the time to fully absorb ourselves in our experiences and appreciate them for what they are. Basically... we miss out on the wonders of our world. 

Regularly practising mindfulness awareness allows us to engage both physically and emotionally with our everyday lives and maximises our opportunities to enjoy 'the little things' as well as those amazing big life experiences.

"When we get too caught up with the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another- and ourselves"

Jack Kornfield

What does this mean for young people?

Mindfulness practice can be learned and embedded from a young age (the sooner the better in my opinion!) Youngsters and particularly teens are exposed to a whole host of visual and technological stimuli that can quite easily send the brain into overdrive. Technology is advancing at such a rapid pace and although this has amazing benefits to our growth and understanding of the world, it can also act as a barrier to connecting with ourselves and those around us. The simple act of having our heads in our phones can mean that we miss out on so much of what's happening right under our noses. 

Add to that a whole host of other potential pressures such as exams, relationships and physical changes, we can start to understand why paying attention to young peoples mental well-being is so vitally important and mindfulness can be a huge positive contributor to that.

What are the benefits?

The practice of being mindful allows young people to cope with frustrations, worries and anxieties they may feel when faced with difficult situations in their lives. Building a 'toolkit' of practical strategies can help them self regulate, respond rather than react and focus their attention to acknowledge and accept difficult situations.

It can also help them recognise the good, pay attention to the small things and practise gratitude. By connecting more with the present moment they can become more compassionate and self accepting individuals able to respond calmly and positively to the world around them. 

              "We take care of the future best by taking care of the present now"

                                                         Jon Kabat-Zinn