The benefits of mindfulness on our emotional, physical, spiritual and mental health have become increasingly prominent over recent years. This is partly due to the significant challenges we’ve faced globally through the pandemic, natural disasters, conflict in the world, not to mention our own daily challenges.
What is mindfulness?
At its core, mindfulness is about purposefully focusing your awareness on the present moment. It involves mental training techniques and impacts how we interact with the world around us. It cultivates awareness to keep us centred and grounded. This helps with anxiety, depression, stress management and overall mental health.
It’s about being in the moment, the present time, highly aware of your surroundings, taking in the sensations free from judgement. It allows you to let your thoughts go, find gratitude for what you can and savour each moment.
Mindfulness therapies are backed by evidence and not as some believe some new fad in the form of a complicated meditation process. Whilst they each offer a broad range of health benefits to each individual, mindfulness differs to meditation without the need to be in a separate place or take a long time. Its flexible, adaptable and highly personal.
History of mindfulness
You do not need to be a spiritual god or goddess to practice effective mindfulness. Interestingly however its worth knowing that the roots of mindfulness date back thousands of years derived from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Stoicism traditions, notably referring to Buddhist practices.
The art of mindfulness is like learning a new skill in anything. It is probably easier said than done because our monkey minds want to drift back to the past or go into the future. However, the only time we have any control over is the present. Being mindful allows you to pay curious attention to your thoughts, feelings and emotions and learn to accept them for what they are. Letting them ‘just be’. Without the pressure of judgment, this practice can be personal, powerful and productive.
Benefits of mindfulness and why mindfulness matters
You will learn to trust yourself more through acceptance, patience and letting go of situations that are beyond your control. Through your observations you will learn to appreciate the little things in life and activate your senses, which has the power to relieve symptoms of stress and everyday life pressures.
There are numerous ways to practice mindfulness and find a way that works for you. It can simply fit in with your day to day activities, amongst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Mindfulness matters because it can help you not only get on top of your mental health, but also to live your life with greater awareness.
Everyone sees the world through their own filters……
Find out more about how mindfulness techniques can enhance your wellbeing and help to keep your mind healthy.
