Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings. Mindfulness can help people avoid destructive behavior or automatic behavior and response by learning to observe their thoughts, emotions, and other present-moment experiences without judging or reacting to them. (American Psychological Association)

According to studies, mindfulness techniques may aid in stress management, improved coping with life-threatening diseases, and a reduction in anxiety and despair. Many people who regularly practice mindfulness say it has improved their capacity to unwind, their passion for life, and their sense of self. Being attentive encourages you to pay attention to your thoughts, your actions, and your body, which is one of its main advantages. For instance, research has indicated that mindfulness can assist individuals in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. One might have noticed how parents tend to engage their children in watching videos when they throw tantrums in public spaces. Children begin to engage in mindless eating at a young age which affects their health and body image accordingly.

The practice of mindfulness and meditation refers to the active application of the discipline as well as the internal gesture that welcomes and embodies it (Depraz, Varela, & Vermersch, 2000).

In another study, it was seen that (Michail et al,2 018) through mindfulness programs that one can incorporate various official and informal mindfulness practices, mindfulness has gained popularity in the West. To make it possible to begin and maintain a mindfulness practice, to increase intrinsic motivation to adhere to mindfulness in our daily lives, one needs to commit to a more rigorous mindfulness program, and to make it easier one should be able to modify one’s lifestyle

There are various mindfulness practices that one can follow, one such study (Edo et al., 2014) talks about practical tips that one can use to practice in their daily life. First, by using meditative anchors which is the practice of observing one’s breathing pattern. People can ‘bind their attention’ to the present moment and control mental repetition by being fully aware of their in-breath and out-breath.

Secondly, by adopting a mediation posture while carrying out everyday activities. Regular seated meditation practices are a crucial component of mindfulness instruction. However, shorter sessions of between 5 and 15 minutes are significantly more successful in the beginning stages than sitting in meditation for hours on end and turning the practice into an endurance sport. A good physical posture aids in the development of a good mental posture during seated meditation practice.

Thirdly, using mindfulness reminders in their everyday lives for better mental health. Using “mindfulness reminders” can help you stay mindfully aware while going about one’s normal job. A wristwatch or computer hour chime is an example of a mindfulness reminder. When it sounds, a person can use it as a cue to gently bring their consciousness back to the present now and to the natural rhythm of their breathing.

Fourthly, the paper talks about practicing what one preaches. This mainly entails when a person gets up from their meditation cushion (or chair) and continues with work and daily duties, that is when mindfulness practice really starts. Therefore, practicing mindfulness is less about scheduling practice sessions and more about remembering to pay attention with a mindful frame of mind while doing whatever it is that one is doing at the time. To be able to convert the mindful practice into mindful thinking and mindful living, it starts to make more meaning.

To engage in mindful practices in your daily life, book a session (https://wa.me/message/O75EY4ZPCBQSP1) with our psychologist.

– Urveez Kakalia and Krupa Abraham.