The mindfulness muscle

Practising mindfulness isn’t about permanently preventing your mind from wandering, which is something it does entirely naturally. It does involve noticing your mind has wandered and then, without judging yourself, bringing your mind back to the present moment. This may sound simple, but it can be difficult to practise!

As with all skills, though, regular practice will bring progress. Just as you can strengthen your muscles by going to the gym, riding a bike or digging in your garden, bringing your attention back to the present moment again and again will help build your mindfulness ‘muscle’.

So, each time you notice your mind wandering during your mindfulness practice, remember that this is your golden opportunity to build your mindfulness muscle!