When we get a clear look at our ways of thinking and feeling, rather than just following their leads unconsciously or semi-consciously, then we respond more consciously and choicefully rather than react on the basis of habit or situational circumstances.
Because mindfulness is about grounding consciousness in the present, the mind is less likely to be captivated by self-generated mental accounts about the past and future, as well as the rumination, regret, anxiety, and other experiences that can dampen the experience of well-being.
By participating in an ecotherapy project, you could meet new people, lessen any isolation and loneliness, and increase your sense of belonging, build your peer support network, create more of a structure to your week, and make connections with people which may develop into long-term friendships.
Ecotherapy can help build your confidence through providing the satisfaction of completing tasks and contributing to positive change for yourself and the environment, and potentially providing opportunities to gain qualifications.
You can use mindfulness principles when doing your normal daily activities, like eating, talking to friends, and exercising. When you notice your mind jumping ahead to worries about what you are going to do next, bring your attention back to what’s happening right now.
Mindfulness is about focusing on what is happening right now, rather than replaying things that happened in the past or worrying about what’s going to happen next. It takes a lot of practice to build the mindfulness habit.
Ecotherapy can help build your confidence through enabling you to meet and overcome new challenges, trying new activities and learning new skills, which can increase your confidence to try new things in other areas of your life, and increasing your motivation to stay active.
Doing physical activity is known to have many physical and mental health benefits; getting more regular social contact with people can reduce loneliness and boost self-esteem; being surrounded by nature can boost your overall mood and sense of wellbeing.
Trying new things, such as sitting in a different seat in meetings or going somewhere new for lunch, can help you notice the world in a new way.
To add mindfulness to your daily routine, it can be helpful to pick a regular time – the morning journey to work or a walk at lunchtime – during which you decide to be aware of the sensations created by the world around you.