Is it a religion? A cult? Something dangerous that could mess with your head? Mindfulness and meditation are often misunderstood, but they are a significant part of my life and essential tools that helped me recover from chronic fatigue.

My mind is busy and frantic, and I need to calm it daily to create peace and space. Here’s what mindfulness means to me:

Mindfulness is…

• Taking a Moment: Feeling the wind on my face when I leave the house in the morning.
• Slowing Down: Walking slightly more slowly and noticing the world around me.
• Living in the Now: Having moments where I’m not worrying about the past or anxious about the future—just experiencing the present.
• Body and Mind Scans: Frequently checking in with myself throughout the day. How am I feeling?
• Acknowledging Emotions: Noticing when I feel scared, anxious, or sad and wondering why—without judgment.
• Appreciating Beauty: Really seeing that beautiful rose in the garden and stopping to smell it.
• Grounding Myself: Sometimes I stop and list what I can feel (my clothing, a shoe rubbing, a cold wind on my face), what I can hear (birds, cars, people talking), and what I can see. This practice is especially grounding when I need to calm my mind.

Daily Meditation

Meditation has been at the root of my mindfulness practice. I meditate daily, which has significantly helped me. Regularly pausing to observe the world and my feelings, allows me to quiet the chatter in my head, even if only for a moment, and experience peace and clarity.

It’s Just a Word

Mindfulness is simply a term for calming the mind and paying attention to life within and outside of ourselves. It’s not about what it’s called but about the practice itself.

Photography and Art

I incorporate mindfulness into both my photography and art. To take my kind of photographs, I need to truly see. Similarly, I use a form of mindfulness in my painting. If my head is full of chatter, I can’t create. Since becoming more mindful, I find I can calm my mind more effectively.

Finding Your Flow

You might call it “getting in the zone,” “finding your groove,” “getting in the flow,” or “focus.” It’s that feeling when you can stop the chatter and concentrate on what you love, losing yourself in the creative process. Initially, this state may be fleeting, but with practice, you can maintain it for longer periods. It is incredibly rewarding.

Looking Inward

Mindfulness involves looking inward. Sometimes, our minds stay busy as a defence against dark and harmful thoughts, so for some, this practice may be best approached with professional help. If you find the experience uncomfortable, please seek help.

Mindfulness has transformed my life, helping me create a space of calm and creativity amid the busyness. It’s a journey worth taking.

Further information

• ‘Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world’ by Mark Williams and Danny Penman.

If you only buy one book, buy this one!

• Look up Jon Kabat-Zinn on YouTube, there are some excellent talks there.
• Books by:
  • Eckhart Tolle
  • Ruby Wax
  • Phillipa Perry
  • Matt Haig
  • Tara Brach
  • Michael Singer
• For audio talks on a wide variety of subjects – tarabrach.com
• Insight Timer – a free app which contains hundreds of meditations and talks
• Mindful photography (free course): leeaspland.com
• Intuitive painting: florabowley.com