Learn a simple, 5 minute meditation technique to clear your mind and calm your emotions. Use this technique daily to empower your life.

1. The Practice of Mindfulness By Dr. Jill N. Henry Author, Energy SourceBook – The Fundamentals of Personal Energy www.mountainvalleycenter.com

3. Our minds sort through thousands and thousands of thoughts each day.

4. Each thought has a direct impact on our emotions and on our bodies.

5. Rarely do we experience the present moment. We are either thinking about the past or planning for the future

6. When was the last time you were truly mindful of the present moment?

7. The usual answer is: “When I was on vacation and I saw a beautiful sunset. I was just there!”.

8. It is possible to “be on vacation” every day. The skill involved is the practice of mindfulness.

10. Nonattachment to our thoughts and returning to the present moment results in great healing, freedom, and joy.

11. The practice is quite simple.

12. To begin, set your alarm clock or stopwatch for 5 minutes

13. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and focus on your breath.

14. FEEL your breath coming and going, going and coming, through your nose. Your breath leads you to the present moment.

15. Simply feel your breath and sit quietly for 5 minutes – that’s all you have to do!

16. You will soon notice how easily you become distracted from feeling your breath.

17. A thought travels through your mind. That thought leads to another, and another.

18. Our thoughts are like unruly children, constantly pulling us into the past or future. This constant pulling is the source of our greatest stress.

19. Each time you become aware of a thought or feeling, return immediately to your breath. Breathe into the present moment. Return again and again and again to the feeling of your breath Return again and again and again to the feeling of your breath

20. Mindfulness gives you the mental skill that allows you to observe your thoughts and feelings without immediate reaction to them.

21. Observe , rather than experience, the emotions attached to each thought. Release the thought, refocus on the breath, and discover Peace.

22. When you are ready, lengthen your 5 minute practice to 10 minutes or 20 minutes or more.

23. Experiencing longer practice periods will allow you to enter the space between your thoughts.