Mindfulness
A state in which a person takes on a moment-to-moment awareness of one’s experience without judgment and without reacting.
Mindfulness is simply an invitation to step out of the chaos of our busy lives and really focus on what we are doing, thinking, and feeling in this moment. This can be done in every aspect of your day, from playing with your children, listening to your partner tell you about their day, taking a walk outside, washing dishes, doing laundry, etc.
A Clear Mind
When you’re in a mindful state, things that would normally bother you won’t trigger past painful experiences – it won’t have the same affect as it did. Mindfulness impacts how you respond to these stressful situations. It’s also not about disconnecting from your true feelings about something. It’s about taking it in, accepting how you feel and being happy, sad or mad in that moment. Feel it.
If it’s a challenging situation, find a solution, then move forward. More details can find found on the CMHA site here.
Breathe
When in a stressful situation, practice this breathing technique:
- Count to 4 while you slowly inhale
- Count to 4 while you hold your breath
- Count to 4 again while you exhale
Find Your Calm
The sound of waves crashing at a beach, the sound of a child’s laugh, a warm embrace are examples of what can bring calm in our lives. Find your calm and make sure to connect to it whenever possible.
Mindfulness Meditation
The practice of training your attention and awareness in order to have greater control of your mental state of well-being and development or specific capacities such as calmness, clarity and concentration.
Reduces
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Repetitive negative thinking
- Emotionally reacting to triggers
Strengthens and Improves
- Memory
- Focus
- Relationships
- Self-insight
- Ability to empathize
- Self-compassion
- Quality of life
The more we work towards improving our mindset, the better equipped we will be in understanding how to compassion and empathy towards others. Work inwards, then work outwards.
A great book to help give you a better understanding of mindfulness is Jay Shetty’s Think Like A Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day.