Mindful Monday - week one!

So as promised, Mondays are going to be mindful for the next 8 weeks. I'm going to create for you a little creative mindful practice to do each Monday.  

But first things first - what is mindfulness? Here's a nice simple definition:
"Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgementally." Jon Kabat-Zinn
Ultimately I like to think of it as being in and enjoying the present moment. Something most of us could do with doing more often, it's so easy to get distracted.

And why is it important?
It's simple yet powerful because it can interupt the habit of getting lost in thoughts, mostly about the future or past, which often generate stress on top of the real pressures of everyday modern life.

So what will these creative mindfullness exercises be? 
Well think of them as tools to help you approach your moment-to-moment experience with a renewed sense of curiosity. With practice you may begin to see your internal experiences and the world around you in a new way, noticing things you hadn't seen before. Let them inspire and intrigue you, and most of all have fun doing them. 

So here is the first one, it's in .pdf format so you can download and print off the sheet (yes you'll need a pen or pencil). Give it a go and let me know how you find it. :)