Mindfulness and Empowerment

Mindfulness is explored in the field of positive psychology and is a commonly used practise. Mindfulness is a useful tool that can empower us within our everyday lives. Being mindfully empowered is not something we are born with. It’s a feeling or an experience that develops with accesses to a healthy environment, education and time. Mindfulness has so many benefits such as confidence and self-awareness. This allows us to approach life with openness, courage, and interest. In this article we explore the importance of mindfulness and how you can feel empowered by using such a valuable tool.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a personal development tool that allows us to make a positive change. By enabling us to pay attention to our thoughts and feelings in the present moment as well as the world around us. It is easy to get so caught up in our thoughts and the stresses of everyday life. Without stopping to notice how this effects our behaviour. As an effective tool mindfulness allow us to relax, reconnect with our bodies and bring around awareness.

It almost as if we are spring cleaning our minds.

Mindfulness Benefits

The benefits of mindfulness empower us in our everyday lives.

Studies have shown that practising Mindfulness has so many benefits. From a mental health perspective, it is attractive to some people because it is a natural measure to tackle issues such as depression, anxiety and stress. It can also help with combating chronic pain and addictions. It can further develop our emotional intelligence and confidence:

1. Developing Emotional Intelligence

Self-awareness is fundamental to emotional intelligence. The ability to monitor our emotions and thoughts from moment to moment helps us understand our behaviours, emotion and thoughts. As a result this can positively impact how we respond to situations that we may face on a day to day. Enabling us to respond thoughtfully and rationally instead of react impulsively to an unexpected or challenging situation.

When we explore our thought and behaviour moment by moment it empowers us to think clearly. Letting us problem solve and make decisions that can avoid or resolve conflict.

2. Develops Confidence

Self-awareness is also an important element of personal confidence. By taking advantage of various mindfulness tools we become aware of our strengths and our weaknesses. This helps us to focus on what we are good at, which intern increases our self-confidence.

Having clarity on our weakness can make space for personal development. Or allow us to seek help from people who are stronger and can uplift us. Giving us confidence to take on issues that we might not have otherwise considered tackling.

Awareness of our weaknesses allows us to pay attention to how our bodies react to tackling a situation that is not our strength. For example, we may experience anxiety: but, by simply being aware of how we react to a situation, we can choose to take positive steps to reduce anxiety. As a result it boosts our confidence because mindfulness gives us the Knowledge to navigate through a challenging situation.

Mindfulness Practices

There are many mindfulness practices out there. Such as complementary therapies which are a great way to give you more me time and aid in relaxation. There techniques such as EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) to remove unblocked energy. Finally there is the option to seek medical advice. Your Doctor is there to help not to judge.

Here is a list of some mindfulness practices:

- Aromatherapy

- Meditation

- Counselling

- CBT

- Acupressure

- Reflexology

- Yoga

- Tia chi

- Tapping

- Unplugging and connecting with nature.

- Grounding

References:

https://positivepsychology.com/mindfulness-positive-psychology-3-great-insights/

https://www.headspace.com/mindfulness

https://oxfordmindfulness.org/

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/mindfulness/about-mindfulness/

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/m/mindfulness

https://www.fht.org.uk/article/mindfulness-and-meditation