When Mindfulness comes up, many people picture a quiet room, closed eyes, crossed legs – and somewhere deep down the thought: “this isn’t for me, I could never just sit still.” If that sounds familiar, I want you to know it’s completely understandable. And that Mindfulness means something quite different.
The practice of conscious presence
Mindfulness is the practice of conscious presence. The ability to truly be here with whatever is happening – inside you and around you – without judgement.
It isn’t the same as meditation. Meditation is a tool that helps along the way – but presence can be there in a conversation, on a walk, over a cup of coffee, or right in the middle of a tense moment.
Why is it so hard simply to be present?
I often see that people are wary of this state. Not because they don’t long for calm, but because old patterns and subconscious habits won’t let them simply sit down and be present. Somewhere inside a voice says: “this isn’t productive”, “think how much I could get done in this time”.
Yet conscious presence is the most creative state there is. The noise quietens, and your nervous system no longer jumps at every single stimulus. It is in this quiet that clear thoughts, ideas and good decisions are born.
What do people who practise notice in everyday life?
They can do anything with far more focus. Their mind isn’t already on the next task while they’re still doing this one – they are there, in what they are doing.
Because they stay in touch with themselves, they can notice what is happening in their own body: the tightness in the chest, the quickening breath, the tensing shoulders. And from there they can handle a situation – instead of reacting on autopilot.
In a conflict, this makes an enormous difference. A small space opens between what happens and how you respond. In that space, you choose: it’s no longer the old pattern reacting for you – you respond consciously, by your own choice.
Not knowledge, but practice
Mindfulness spread from Eastern teachings, but it isn’t knowledge – it is practice. You can read as many books about it as you like; presence can only be experienced.
That’s why I don’t teach you. I walk alongside you on your path.
What happens in Mindfulness mentoring?
In our sessions we practise together. I support you with different tools: the breath, noticing the signals of your body, consciously steering your attention, and short practices that fit into everyday life.
Together we look at the situations where you switch to autopilot, and explore how you can give yourself one breath of space there. Between sessions you take home small practices, so that presence slowly becomes part of your days.
This process is entirely different from coaching. We don’t break goals down into steps or work through one specific blockage – I accompany you as you reconnect with yourself and experience what it is like to be truly present in your own life.
If this spoke to you
You don’t need any previous experience, and you don’t have to “do it right”. Openness and curiosity are enough.
If you’d like to see how present you are in your own life right now, take the free Mindfulness self-check – or let’s have a free 15-minute call about how you could begin. You are warmly welcome.
— Beáta