We become aware of the beauty in the world around us. We pay more attention to the richness of colors and the beauty of nature. We take pleasure in hearing the songs of birds and listening to the sound of ocean waves on the shore. We feel the soft fur on a dog and the rough bark of a tree. Instead of taking the beauty around us for granted, we are fully alive and finding joy in every moment.
Mindfulness is difficult to sustain, however.
Unwanted thoughts creep in and draw our attention away from the moment. We start dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. In order to prevent negative thoughts from taking over, we must gently refocus our attention back on the present and our experience of it. Persistence pays off. Every time that we become aware of unwanted thoughts, we must gently redirect them.