Mindfulness, a state of living in the 'present-moment,' helps you to deal with day-to-day difficulties in a positively constructive manner. Yes, you are reading this article, or you've just picked up a life-changing book a friend recommended. Yet, chances are you're not reading this piece. Maybe, you have only had a quick look at it as you gulped down your cup of coffee, or tea. We can't blame you for it, because you have so much to do-and, so little time. But, wait a minute-you may be wrong, in spite of your good intentions.

Sure-you have more than a bagful of 'to-dos.' So much so, you just can't give your full attention to more than a few of 'those' items on your priority list. So, you push harder-and, the harder you push in more activities, or more than any of us could handle, you feel you haven't really accomplished anything.

Is there a way out of such a 'jam?' Yes-and you may not believe it. First, you should slow down your pace and be mindful. Speeding up things is, after all, not the best way to doing it. Think of a process where you learn how to be in the present-moment, not what-can-be, or could-be moment. It will help you lead, and live, a fuller life. Doing this is, indeed, a simple, practical 'act' - one that will 'pilot' you to paying close attention to what you're doing at any given point of time. It is something that will help you do only one thing at a time and not throw you off balance from your extremely busy schedule.

Picture this - your awareness holds the key. So, being mindful, or alert, is a great tool-kit. You not only make up lost time by performing more efficiently, but you will also see problems as they are-not what you have, till now, imagined them to be. Not that mindfulness will take you on a great journey where difficult situations just disappear at the proverbial drop of a mantra. Far from it. Rather, it is a state of being that provides you with the basic essentials to deal with difficulties in a more positive, constructive manner.

So, the next time you get worked up, go out for a brisk walk, or listen to soft, soulful music, or jot down what you feel, or felt like, in your own words. Writing your feelings in a journal, for example, or dealing with hostile energy provides you the means to dealing effectively with your feelings. Once you are through, just close your eyes. Breathe deeply and 'go' with what you are feeling. As you scan your body, you'll feel more relaxed, focused and ready to get back to work.

To make mindfulness work better for you, zero-in on your entire body, your every muscle, including every cell within. Notice how your breath quickens, your joints loosen and your muscles contract. It works on a simple premise. When you learn to read your body's signals, you will be the better for it.

It would be, on a different plane, interesting to note that the scientific relationship between electroencephalogram (EEG) activity and mindfulness has been extensively investigated. The accepted view today is that it produces a type of relaxation and a sense of inner calm-not sleep. This is reason enough why any mindful/meditative practice has become one of the many ways to teaching people and/or patients how to relax.

Methods of mindfulness are many, although breathing is one of the most popular forms embraced by most enthusiasts, and practitioners, worldwide. Meditative specialists call breathing 'mouth yoga.' Because, when we breathe in, we smile. When we smile, we are able to release all our worries, feelings and emotions.

Mindfulness calls for open receptivity and awareness of all stimuli. An individual practising mindfulness experiences all objects that arise in consciousness, as if it wastheir first meeting with them. Mindfulness, like focused meditation, can be developed in any situation-though different schools of thought encourage different pathways. This is quite right, because mindfulness encompasses maximisation of both the breadth and clarity of our attentiveness.

Mindfulness is sublime meditation. It is, of course, not a panacea. It does not take away pain. However, it removes the tension created from struggling against pain. Add to this mindful eating, where you treat eating as a spiritual experience. Inference? By slowing down your racy processes, in life and career, you'll not only nurture greater awareness, but also give space in your mind to savour present-moment reality.

Now, let's look at the whole idea differently. Imagine a commonplace example. You are stuck in a major traffic jam on the way to an emergency-or, may be, an important meeting, or job interview. To begin with, you'd have had these feelings in mind - you want to create an impression, or carry yourself with poise and flair. You would hate to lose your chance, and so on. Now, you are left in the lurch. How do you react in such a situation? Let's sample a brace of responses.

You'd say to yourself that it is going to be outrageous. 'I am a bloody fool.' 'Why did I not leave early?' Or, you'd react differently. 'Let me face it. It is not the best thing that happened, all right. Getting worked up would only lead to pumping up more adrenaline. It's not going to make the traffic move.' 'I need to stay calm. Tune into music, perhaps.' 'Or, take a few deep breaths.' Where do you fit? Ask yourself.

As Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher, put it, 'We are not disturbed by things, but by our opinion of things.' Anxiety, phobia, excessive anger, sleeplessness, depression, etc., are feelings. They actually have much more to do with how we think than what we do.

Nidamboor is a wellness physician, independent researcher and author