Finding Mindfulness In Brooklyn Embroidery

By Betty Kelly


Mindfulness can be found in just about any area of life, but for anyone new to the concept there are some ways to make it easier. Finding a hobby or exercise that you enjoy and that will focus your mind, such as Brooklyn embroidery, is the first step in developing a lifelong mindfulness practice. It will help to focus your mind and ease any anxiety you are feeling.

Embroidery has been around for centuries and although today much of the embroidery found on clothing is machine stitched, there is a growing community of hand embroiderers who rave about the benefits of this creative and peaceful activity. Not only are you creating something, but you are also giving your mind a moment to relax and recharge.

The combination of embroidery and mindfulness is an unexpected one, but anyone who has tried embroidery will understand the connection. The focus and concentration you need to excel at this activity means that mindfulness is a natural side effect. If you start a piece when you are doing a million other things and not completely focused it will show in the stitches.

Embroidery can be done alone or you can find a group or class to do it with. Those experienced in mindfulness can focus their attention within themselves regardless of what is going on around them, but if you are new to it you might prefer to do it alone. It doesn't matter what you embroider, just take a few minutes to block everything out and focus.

Any activity that gives you the clarity of mind that comes from intense concentration is good for mindfulness. Have you ever concentrated so hard on a project that you almost enter a state of bliss? This is exactly what mindfulness with hobbies is about. Find that moment of concentration and use it to clear your mind of everything but the present moment.

Meditation is all about letting the mind stop and finding inner peace. It is a complicated activity and many people spend years trying to master it without feeling like they are getting anywhere. Mindfulness is a step towards this as you focus only on the present moment, what you are feeling and what you are thinking. Any worries about the past or the future gradually disappear with practise and what you are left with is clarity and direction.

Using an activity or hobby to develop mindfulness has added benefits. You are working towards a clear end goal, such as finishing the embroidery picture or learning how to do a particularly complex stitch. By the end you have progressed and created something, which helps self esteem and encourages you to keep going. You could also find yourself making new friends from the hobby.

Embroidery might not be the activity for you, but there will be something out there that offers you the chance to embrace mindfulness and use it to make your life a little better. Find something that you enjoy and that requires quietness and concentration and you will be able to use it to develop your own mindfulness practice.




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