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Yes it is true! My long time friend Jack took some private meditation classes when he lived in Nepal for a few months on a travelling holiday.

Jack’s teacher was a lovely German lady whose name escapes me, but I do recall her strong German accent and passion for all things yoga and meditation.

Anyway, Jack tried over several sessions to mediate in the traditional way, in stillness and quiet, sitting upright. He found this extremely challenging to remove all thoughts and movement from his non-stop thinking brain and after numerous unsuccessful attempts he was told he failed!

The teacher instead encouraged him to try mindfulness, such as chopping wood, reading, or walking to focus his mind. Thankfully for Jack, this has been a success!

Jack now knows that he can listen to a podcast, or mow the lawn, or read a book to quieten the thoughts in his mind. Mindfulness is not about getting rid of all thoughts, rather turning down the volume on them.

So if you can find an activity to focus your thinking mind, then that allows you to enjoy the present moment of where you are, here, right now.

Mindfulness is the non-judgemental awareness of the present moment, without being attached to thoughts or emotions.

Mindfulness is realising that we are not our thoughts, and having the ability to let them float by like clouds in our mind.

A single activity can be mindful, such as walking the dog, running, yoga, listening and singing to music, watching the clouds or the ocean.

Mindfulness has been scientifically proven to lower stress levels, boost your immunity and it even helps when you are not practicing it.