I find myself thinking more about mindfulness.

A couple of years ago my workplace paid for staff who were interested in the practice to participate in an eight week program on Mindfulness.

The organisation had been transitioning through yet another change process and it was probably strategic to offer staff the chance to develop some self help skills to negate an increase in worker's compensation claims for stress.

Of course I jumped at the chance to learn about this new and popular practice - personally and professionally - and it turned out to be the highlight of my time working in this organisation. I thoroughly enjoyed the theory and the practice and particularly the enthusiasm of the teacher David Hunerupp.

Having never been a committed student though I struggled to complete the homework. My visualisation of the inner workings of my body during meditation reminded me why I had failed biology and it was a challenge putting the new knowledge into daily practise.

I'm just not that disciplined.

I am the person who knows what to do and doesn't always do it - think diet, think exercise, think work relationship finances (mentioned in my post on stability).

As with any learning though it's surprising what resonates and what we retain.

I've always believed if I can take one new idea or activity, (or worst case scenario a free drink bottle or 'show bag') away from a day of training then it's been worthwhile.

Jokes aside, we get out of something what we put into it. There's always something to learn, a different way of seeing the same thing, or an opportunity to have your knowledge validated by an "expert".

Presenters, teachers, counsellors and change agents who seem to connect with us do so because they know one approach doesn't fit everyone. They take some time to research their audience, get to know their students and build genuine rapport with their clients. We feel they notice us in some way.

What I took away from David's teaching was that being mindful is about noticing. Not noticing and overthinking about what I notice, just noticing and being aware of what I see hear smell sense. Noticing and being aware.

To engage with a person or a group or even a large audience first you have to notice them. Be in the present, be aware of the environment, the nonverbal language, unspoken tension, sense the mood - trust your intuition to identify possible barriers to mutual engagement.

Start with yourself. What thoughts are distracting you? No sense trying to write a report if you're mind is on the conversation you had earlier, or trying to meditate if you're waiting for a phone call or making yourself so busy that taking time out to focus on breath causes you to hyperventilate.

I found the most important skill I've learned in the past few years is to breathe.

Yes breathe.

So many people I talk to hold their breath, especially when anxious or worried. "Breathe" I'll say, and the person will looked surprised until I say "you're holding your breath, now take a slow breath and release it". Then they notice.

I mentioned yoga in a previous post and will no doubt mention it again, often. Yoga is teaching me how to breathe - deeply and slowly- it's the most calming strategy, and best of all you can do it anywhere anytime.

So breathing and noticing, these are the two activities I do each day (one clearly more often than the other). Noticing and breath anytime anywhere.

I take photos with my mobile often and I post them on social media. This is my "I notice in my day album" and if you look at my Twitter or Instagram feed you will notice many pictures of my daily life, not photographically amazing just the random moments I notice in my day.

Try it yourself. Notice your daily surroundings, view the patterns of your day through your mobile lens, each photo is a snapshot of mindfulness.

If you'd like to share an "I notice moment" upload to my Facebook page.

Here are a few from my day...

KarenPS ~

I walked with a friend this more and we talked about being mindful and noticed the colour of the sea and the easterly wind

I noticed my neighbour has planted a beautiful herb garden and positioned a chair to sit in and watch the garden grow from her front door in the sunshine.

I noticed the early morning sunshine filtered through this tree on the corner.

I noticed how fresh and crisp this cauliflower looked on my bench.

I noticed I was breathing