Mindfulness for beginners | Leora

Moments of calm and clarity can seem like a rare luxury in our current world ridden with sensory overload. But there is a powerful practice that can help us be present and build focus: mindfulness.  

At Leora, we believe mindfulness is not just a buzzword, but a powerful, transformative tool for your personal and professional well-being. In this blog, we explore what mindfulness is, why it matters and how it can bring real benefits to you.

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your attention to the present moment with openness, curiosity, and non-judgement. It’s a modern take on meditation which involves tuning into your present thoughts, feelings and surroundings with awareness and acceptance, and trying not to get carried away with thoughts that aren’t of value to the present moment.  

Mindfulness can help with how you manage everyday situations. It can help with: 

This can help alleviate symptoms of: 

Starting with just ten minutes of mindfulness, you can gain clarity and improve your outlook on life. 💆

Before you get started, it can be helpful to consider these key principles of mindfulness.  

Start without judgement.  

We spend so much of our lives comparing ourselves to others, always wanting what we don’t have, never feeling satisfied or happy. Silence the negative self-talk, and let this time be a judgement-free zone. 

Be patient. 

Learn to savor the present moment and allow things to happen in their own time. Living in the past, or being fixated on the future, stops us from enjoying our life in the present.  

Trust the process. 

With an innate belief that things will work out, we are relieved of the need to constantly control our experiences. Focus on what you want to achieve, believe that you can do it, and trust that you will.  

Practice being kind to yourself. 

Use positive self-talk in your mindfulness practice and watch how this influences your perspective on everyday life. By being kind to ourselves, we’re more inclined to share this generosity with others, creating a positive feedback loop.  

Become the observer. 

If we step back from the situation, removing attachment to how we felt and thought about it, we can practically consider our actions and reactions without judgement or bias. This provides an opportunity to understand and accept difficult and challenging experiences. 

Adopt a beginner’s mindset. 

Imagine every time you start as the first time. Enjoy the curiosity that comes with every new journey, watch things become new, interesting and exciting. There’s so much excitement to be had in the present moment!  

With all of this in mind…

Have you ever experienced work-related stress? What about burnout? Mindfulness is a powerful way to combat these challenges, by allowing you to build resilience, mental clarity and emotional intelligence. By allocating even just a few minutes in your day to mindfulness, you can enhance your focus, creativity and mental sharpness. Stress becomes more manageable, we’re more productive and our job satisfaction grows.  

Mindfulness is transformative. It is a timeless practice which can have profound implications for your personal and professional life. By practicing mindfulness, you can become calmer, more focused and more resilient, capable of meeting challenges and dealing with difficult situations. So why wait? 

Leora’s Mindfulness May challenge kicks off on May 1^st,  and everything you’ll need is in the app.  

Looking to join but not a current user of Leora? Click here to get in touch. 

Leora would like to thank Roula Selinas, founder of Transform Counselling & Coaching, registered counsellor, life coach, author and inspirational speaker, for her contribution to this article.