Practising mindfulness helps people navigate the busy and challenging world. This practice helps people find peace-of-mind in a world that can quickly become overwhelming. Mindfulness is a form of mental health care that is practical and beneficial. Getting to this state is realistic, especially when practicing daily.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a state of being involved in the present moment, without worrying about the past or present. During mindful moments, people do judge or worry about having attachment to it. This practice is a form of meditation that comes from ancient traditions, and recent research shows it improves overall well-being. Practicing mindfulness can help people lower their stress levels while improving their ability to pay attention and regulate their emotions.
Why practise mindfulness?
The world moves quickly which creates stress. Rather than living with the negative effects of stress, people can use mindfulness to become grounded in the present moment. The practice serves as an anchor that keeps people from getting lost in their stressful thoughts and emotions. Moving into a state of mindfulness lets people notice their current state without experiencing judgment. As they build their practice, they become more resilient and notice clearer thoughts.
Mindfulness helps people become more focused, so they can pay more attention despite external and internal distractions. Multitasking prevents people from being mindful and develops more scattered thinking, which creates more stress. With mindfulness, people can stay focused on their tasks and become more efficient in all they do. Mindfulness builds intentionality, which makes the practice like a moving meditation.
What are the benefits of mindfulness?
Mindfulness offers several benefits. When people practice it regularly, they become more self-aware, so they can regulate their emotions and avoid being overwhelmed by them. People who practice mindfulness become more compassionate to themselves and others, because they do not worry about judgment. They respond with balanced, healthy reactions so they have strong relationships that reflect their personal peace of mind.
How do you practise mindfulness?
Mindfulness does not involve rituals or special events. You don’t have to sit on a special pillow or chant. Practicing mindfulness involves a breathing routine that gives you time to center on your inhales and exhales, getting involved in the moment. You can also practise mindful eating, where you pause to enjoy every bite of food. Mindfulness usually involves slowing down so you can be present and get out of your racing thoughts.
People can also be mindful when interacting with other people. Listening and being attentive during conversations is a form of mindfulness that shows you care about the people around you. When you listen, do it without judgment or planning what to say next. Mindful communication creates empathetic relationships with deeper connections.
Where can you find more information about mindfulness?
A good place to start a mindfulness journey is with a smartphone app. These apps include guided mindful meditations and exercises that help you start on the journey. You can also check our books and community workshops. It takes time to develop a mindfulness practice, so start small and build your practice gradually.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
