Mindfulness, Stress Reduction and Overall Happiness
Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing our attention on the present moment. Whilst calmly acknowledging and accepting our feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations and accepting without judgment. Mindfulness is now being examined scientifically. It has been found to be a key element in stress reduction and overall happiness.
Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn helped to bring the practice of mindfulness meditation into mainstream medicine. Demonstrated that practicing mindfulness can bring improvements in both physical and psychological symptoms as well as positive changes in health, attitudes, and behaviours. Mindfulness helps us be present in our lives and gives us some control over our reactions and repetitive thought patterns. It helps us pause, get a clearer picture of a situation, and respond more skilfully.
Mindfulness improves well-being
For some people, mindfulness is primarily a way to enhance health or performance. For others, mindfulness is a tool for self-exploration. Furthermore, there is more than one way to practice mindfulness. However, the goal of any mindfulness technique is to achieve a state of alert, focused relaxation which allows the mind to refocus on the present moment. All mindfulness techniques are a form of meditation.
Increasing your capacity for mindfulness supports many attitudes that contribute to a satisfied life. Being mindful makes it easier to enjoy the pleasures in life as they occur. It helps you become fully engaged in activities, and creates a greater capacity to deal with adverse events. By focusing on the here and now, many people who practice mindfulness find that they are less likely to get caught up in worries about the future. Or regrets over the past, are less preoccupied with concerns about success and self-esteem, and are better able to form deep connections with others.
Mindfulness improves mental health. In recent years, psychotherapists have turned to mindful meditation as an important element in the treatment of a number of problems. Including depression, substance use, eating disorders. As well as, conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Many of us spend large parts of our lives on auto pilot. Not aware of what we are experiencing, missing out on all the sights and sounds and smells and connections and joys we could appreciate. Some of that time our minds seem “switched off”. At other times, caught in thoughts from the past or plans for the future. Much of which is repetitive.
It can be easy to rush through life without stopping
When we do notice something in the present, our habit is often to judge instantly and react quickly. Often working from a faulty or limited perspective that restricts our options or creates issues. It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much. Reminding yourself to take notice of your thoughts, feelings, body sensations and the world around you is the first step to mindfulness.
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See you soon,
Sally