Have you ever been talking to someone, and had the experience that they’re not really listening to you? Maybe they’re busy thinking their own thoughts, or distracted and daydreaming.

How do you feel when that happens?

The weird thing is, we do this to ourselves all the time. We’re doing one thing, but thinking of another. We’re trying to watch a TV programme but we keep interrupting it with thoughts about work. Or about what we should have said in that conversation half an hour ago. We’re not really listening to ourselves – not really listening to life.

On the other hand, how about when someone gives you their full and undivided attention? When they’re just listening, with no agenda, no interruption, no hurry. When they’ve got plenty of time to really hear you, hear what you’re saying and hear what you mean.

How does that feel?

We can give ourselves that experience.  All we have to do is really pay attention to what we’re doing, what we’re thinking, what we’re feeling. We can give ourselves our own undivided attention.

That’s mindfulness!