As we head into a new year, many people spend time setting resolutions for themselves. If being more mindful is one of yours, let me introduce you to The Free Mindfulness Project.
Founded in 2012 by Peter Morgan and based in the United Kingdom, the purpose of The Free Mindfulness Project is "to provide easy and free access to mindfulness meditation exercises by inviting the wider mindfulness community to share their resources” on the site.Let’s start with a quick definition of mindfulness from the website: “Mindfulness can be described as paying attention to what we are experiencing in this moment, and doing so with a particular attitude: One of curiosity, openness, acceptance and warmth. Simply observing what we are experiencing, right now, and bringing a warm curiosity to whatever arises.”
To give mindfulness a try, head to the free resources page. Here you will find a selection of guided mindfulness exercises. You can choose exercises that focus on your breath, your body or guided imagery. There is also a collection of brief exercises if you’re short on time.
If you’d prefer to participate in live online sessions, this link lists recurring live sessions that take place in the U.K., the East Cost of the United States, and California. Because they’re virtual, you can join any of the groups no matter where in the world you are.
The website also has COVID-19 resources, a gallery of soothing images, and a collection of poetry provided by Words to Sit With. Take some time to explore the options and try them out until you find some that you like.
If you find this website helpful and want to make a financial contribution, you’re out of luck. The ability to donate to the project was suspended in 2020 so that people would support other organizations experiencing financial hardship. What you can do is spread the word about The Free Mindfulness Project by sharing this post. Have a happy, healthy, mindful new year!