What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a way of living more connected in the moment to expand awareness and to be intensely aware of what you are feeling, thinking, and experiencing without interpretation and with an attitude of curiosity and non-judgement.
Mindfulness is very simple, but it can be very challenging as well in a busy world full of constant doing. So often we go through the day without being mindful.
When you live in a fast-paced world, it can be difficult to take stock sometimes and concentrate on what you are doing at the time. In fact, social scientists from Harvard found on average, people spend 46% of the time thinking about something other than what they’re currently doing. They suggested that this mind-wandering makes people unhappier. If we were to engage in the present moment more often, we could substantially improve that quality of our lives. According to Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert, A Wandering Mind is an Unhappy Mind.
Have you ever wondered how you commuted to your workplace without noticing anything along the way? Or, have you started to eat or drink something and then suddenly the cup or plate is empty? You might also observe that your mind worries about the future or replays the past instead of being present to what is happening now, in this moment.
In these examples, we are on "auto-pilot," which is a state of mindlessness that we all experience.
These behaviours of the mind can make us miss out on the things that are happening within and around us. They can also impact our ability to gather information about our life, our interactions, and our experiences.
Mindfulness can help us learn to be more present from moment-to-moment experiences, thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
Although it might be challenging, we can all develop the skills of mindfulness through practice. It’s about drawing your attention to what is happening now and allowing yourself to experience it without feeling the need to change or analyse it. Mindfulness is not about shutting off the mind or stopping your thoughts, but instead about learning to have a healthier relationship with your mind and thoughts.
You can practice everyday mindfulness by living in a mindful way. You can offer your full attention to what you are doing, experiencing, or listening to. You can approach life with an attitude of curiosity and openness, and you can do it at any time--while you're walking, eating, waiting in line, studying, talking with someone, breathing, or listening to music.
How does practising Mindfulness help us to escape from all the above distractions? Here are some of the benefits:
- You'll find your immunity is stronger so you'll be sick less often and for a shorter period of time
- Your digestion will improve
- The quality of your sleep will also improve as will your cognitive functions – including memory, concentration, and creative imagination
- Levels of irritability, impatience, anxiety and depression will decrease
- More harmonious relationships
- Enhanced levels of happiness and wellbeing
- Increase oxygen and blood flow
- Improving academic performance
- Improving sleep and relaxation
- Improving your relationships with yourselves and others by increasing gratitude, empathy, and compassion
- Developing insight into your life - what you value, what matters to you, how you feel, what you need, with whom you want to spend time, and more
Mindfulness vs Meditation
We need to understand that Mindfulness and Meditation are different:
- Meditation
- Different levels of consciousness bringing them to a clear and calm space
- Several different types of meditation practices – visualisation, sound, chanting, breathing ……
- Is the broad umbrella term in which the concept of mindfulness is included
- Mindfulness
- Is a form of meditation whereby our attention is focused on an object
- Mindfulness practices involve directing your attention to sounds, sight, smells, sensations and thought