This is a powerful way to work with the thoughts that inevitably arise anytime you try to meditate and be mindful.

Learning the skill of breaking a thought trance can be invaluable as a step towards mindfulness and

also in preparation for being able to snap out of a panic or anxiety loop if

you're ever in real danger.

Breath awareness or watching your breath is hands down

one of the most efficient and anxiety,

mindfulness tools ever.

Remember this. It's where you want to go first if anything is more than

you can handle. So practice it now, practice it often, so that it becomes an immediate safe haven for you whenever and wherever

you might need one.

For these purposes, the purposes of noticing your thoughts,

it's also a great one because when you focus on your breath,

it's very likely to be interrupted briefly on numerous occasions with stray thoughts.

Bring your attention to your breath now and as you do notice the sensations of rising and falling with each breath you take.

Perhaps you notice a sensation of coolness as the breath enters through your nose.

And then stay with the breath as it moves through you, trying to follow it through each complete cycle.

Starting at your nose,

until your lungs are almost full, and then following it through all the way as you exhale out.

Continue focusing on your breath, the sensations, and then staying with the breath,

each breath as it comes all the way through to completion.

As you continue to do this, focusing on every breath as it comes, before long you'll probably notice some thoughts dropping in.

As soon as you become aware of a thought, beginning to take form, give it a label.

...