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Words of Whizdom

Mindfulness, what are the basics and how can we benefit from it?

Posted on 19th June 2019 by Haylee Burley

Woman Practices Yoga P6 Rfln7

It seems to me that the definition of mindfulness is a little tricky to pin down, despite it supposedly being a simple practice. From what I gather, the fundamentals of mindfulness remain the same; however, the practice means different things to different people.

 

Typically, mindfulness involves practising meditation exercises daily. This usually involves sitting in a quiet place, turning your mind’s attention to your body and your breathing, and focusing on the sounds and sensations around you.

 

Here are some lovely definitions I found while scrolling through some research:  

 

Mindfulness is remembering to be present at the moment, learning to relate to our thoughts and our feelings in a way that goes against the grain of our conditioning. It is a way of unbecoming what we are not. 

 

Mindfulness is the awareness and approach to life that arises from paying attention on purpose, fully present, with curiosity and compassion. 

 

Mindfulness helps to change the way you think and feel about your experiences, especially stressful experiences. It involves paying attention to your thoughts and feelings in order to become more aware of them, less enmeshed in them, and better able to manage them. 

 

The way I see it mindfulness allows you to take a step back from your current situation and view things objectively, without making an emotional judgment about the situation. When times become stressful, adopting a new perspective can help you find gratitude and find the positives in a difficult situation. 

 

I'm sure that for all of us, our minds often tend to get caught up thinking about the past or worrying about the future. Mindfulness helps you to keep your thoughts in the present moment. As you practice, you tend to get better at calming the mind and keeping things in perspective. 

 

The perspective that we gain from mindfulness results is clarity. Once we remove the fog from the emotional response and have a clear view of what has happened, mindfulness allows us to make a rational and carefully considered plan of action on how to proceed.

 

According to smiling mind - a web and App-based program developed by a team of psychologists who give you lots of information, tips and benefits - mindfulness is a tool that can help you to: 

 

  • Reduce worries, anxiety and distress 
  • Enjoy more energy 
  • Create a sense of calm 
  • Learn how to relax and regulate emotions 
  • Enhance awareness and creativity 
  • Improve concentration and increase productivity 
  • Develop a sense of empathy and connectedness 
  • Enjoy better health and sleep 

Whatever it means to you mindfulness seems like a vital part of any self-care routine, that we can all benefit from. When we meditate, we can tap into our needs and understand the importance of looking after ourselves. When met with challenging situations, a key part of getting through it is listening to your mind and body and understanding what it needs.

 

 

Written By: Haylee Burley – Contractor Care Manager, Whizdom Recruitment

References: https://www.smilingmind.com.au/mindfulness 

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