Paying attention is the key to the change you want to happen

Learning how to pay attention to your thoughts, feelings and experiences in a mindful way is the key to all the changes you wish to make. Many of us engage in activities that take us away from paying attention or noticing. Things like binge watching, gaming, reading, gambling, drinking, scrolling, eating. Any behaviour that takes us away from what you are feeling, thinking, experiencing may be helpful or not. There are two facts here: • Increasing your awareness can be difficult and painful. • Reducing your awareness can be isolating and life shrinking. With the first one – it’s a caution that increased awareness needs to be monitored. So before diving into any mindfulness based program engage someone experienced who can act as a guide (like me ;) ). For most people, it’s worth it, because among the downsides to NOT increasing awareness is numbness, disconnection, denial, and a small life. To ease into it we're going to start with the practice of savouring.  Choosing something you love and giving it your full attention. Have yourself a tiny little experience. The first bite of something. Your morning coffee, A flower, the wind, a piece of music. 1. Do just this one thing. 2. Use your senses to fully experience this moment. You can record it in a journal or keep it as a visual memory. One reminder to engage in savouring, is if you feel the urge to take a take a photo of something, savour it first.