Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally to things as they are. Pay attention to what? To anything, especially aspects of life that we tend to take for granted. For example, we may pay attention to how we walk, what we are thinking when in the shower, or how we feel whilst browsing on the internet. Why does paying attention in this way help? Because it gives an opportunity to respond to stress rather than react. Mindfulness allows you to exert control and infuluence the flow of events when you are likely to react automatically. We are not trying to suppress emotions when we respond to stress. We are learning to work with all our reactions, both emotional and physical, to see how we may respond more effectively. Awareness brings comfort of a certain kind. We could call this the comfort of being whole. Mindfulness is developed, deepened and enriched through the practice of mindfulness meditation. By establishing a regular, daily practice of mindfulness meditation, research has shown it will result in positive emotional changes in the brain, less depression and anxiety, less stress reactivity and more reasonable responses to challenges, and a greater sense of wellbeing. Meditation is not as difficult as people make it sound - by doing a course or workshop by an understanding teacher, you'll learn the art of meditation within a few weeks or so. Send an email to find out more or give me a call on 07903 343 893 (just leave a message if I'm out). |
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What is Mindfulness? |