Every single video on mindfulness, every single poster on mindfulness starts with an opening image of a person meditating. It is always a person sitting with a couple of scented candles, sitting with their back upright, with their eyes closed; but is this mindfulness all about? Just meditation? We disagree, in this blog lets unravel why?
Mindfulness is a lot more than just breathing exercises. It is a new way of looking at life, and consciously engaging with life. Although meditation is a great tool, it isn’t always practical. Imagine you have an important presentation, an annoying relative, a child throwing a terrible tantrum in front of you, you cannot resort to meditation then. There is a need for something that’s portable and easy to apply. We constantly say things like “mindfulness is boring”, it’s just breathing and meditation, This reveals a fundamental misunderstanding: mindfulness is not about clearing your mind. It’s about noticing what’s there — the clutter, the overwhelm, the racing thoughts — with curiosity rather than judgment.
When looked from a psychologist’s perspective, we understand how mind works, how trauma shapes behaviour, how stress affects functioning. And as life coaches we understand how clarity, performance, and purpose are built through action, reflection, and alignment. Mindfulness viewed through this dual lens becomes much more complex than just a calming practice.
The psychologist brings:
- Emotional regulation
- Nervous system literacy
- Cognitive reframing
- Trauma-informed presence
The coach brings:
- Actionable tools
- Future-focused clarity
- Value-aligned decision-making
- Empowered self-leadership
Together, these two approaches build a version of mindfulness that’s not only about being — but also about becoming.
Having said that mindfulness doesn’t always need to be a on the mat practice, here are some easy tools one can apply:
1. The Mindful Check-in
- Ask yourself:
- What am I feeling?
- What is my body telling me?
- What story am I telling myself?
- What do I need right now?
2. Thought Labeling
- Instead of getting caught in thoughts, label them:
- “That’s a worry thought.”
- “That’s an old fear showing up.”
- “That’s a perfectionism voice.”
Naming it reduces its power.
3. Micro Pauses
- Before opening a new email, starting a meeting, or reacting to a message, take one conscious breath. That pause is mindfulness.
4. 5-4-3-2-1 grounding:
- Try to find,
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can hear
- 3 things you can touch
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
Mindfulness need not to be boring and monotonous even a moment of peace, a deep breathe, one enjoyed cup of coffee can be mindfulness. True mindfulness isn’t found in perfect stillness — it’s forged in how we meet the storm.
