What exactly is mindfulness? The term “mindfulness” increasingly is thrown around in the mainstream media. Because it can take on so many meanings, fully grasping it and integrating it is difficult. Essentially, mindfulness is the process of bringing our attention to the present moment. Sometimes people compare it to meditation–a type of mindfulness. The mindfulness I’ll talk about here is more encompassing than meditation.
Our lives are hectic. We are friends, children, partners, employees, parents, artists, teachers, siblings, and busy!! Sometimes I get to work and then a moment of panic sets in when I question how I got there or if I drove safely. I was so disconnected from my trip; it’s amazing I made it without incident. Many times, I look down at my empty plate feeling sad that there is nothing left. I ate its contents without notice. Or my morning (and afternoon…) cup of coffee just magically disappears seemingly without me drinking it! If all our experiences are like this, we may start to feel disconnected.
Mindfulness can help with this. When I first learned about mindfulness, I had this idea that I would have to carve out time in my day to sit and be mindful of the present moment. While this is great and can be helpful, we can also pay extra attention to the things we’re already doing. If we intentionally slow down in mundane (yet wonderful) moments, focus our attention, and notice thoughts, sensations, and feelings, we are likely to feel a greater sense of peace. Being mindful of unpleasant experiences can be productive too; it can help us figure out what our experiences are and what is particularly unpleasant about them.
What Exactly Is Mindfulness?
This “stop and smell the roses” idea sounds easy but it takes practice to intentionally and continuously redirect our attention to the present. For example, it’s challenging to pay attention to our drive to work. We can notice how the wheel feels on our hands, the leather of our seats, the sounds of birds flying and cars whizzing by, the smell of air freshener and the old sneakers in the backseat. Our tendency might be to think about what we have to get done that day, what needs to happen when we get home, and what our plans are for this weekend,, not what happens at the moment we’re in. Being mindful of our drives, our showers, our meals, our cups of coffee, and time with friends is a simple (at least in theory) way to help us feel enriched in our lives.
Do you feel disconnected or numb? Do you feel like you’re going through the motions of life without noticing or appreciating them? If you’re near me in the Buffalo area of New York, I invite you to call me and we can set up a time to meet!
Tacianna Indovina, PhD
Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Counseling, Late Teens + Adults, Psychological Assessments
Dr. Tacianna Indovina knew that she wanted to be a therapist since she was in high school. From that time, her love and enthusiasm for the healing power of psychotherapy hasn’t wavered. It’s a good thing for our community that Tacianna is as enthusiastic as ever for helping people when they feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and alone.
Through her authenticity, gentle directness, and sense of humor, Tacianna works with you to identify patterns of thinking and behaving that may be making it difficult for you to meet your goals. Tacianna’s easy rapport encourages, validates, challenges, and empowers!
With her down-to-earth and relatable style, Tacianna provides counseling for late adolescents, adults, and couples, to provide support to recover from interpersonal loss and trauma, overcome mood struggles, cope with anxiety, and adjust positively to life transitions. Tacianna adapts her approach to what you want and need, and aims to help you build healthier relationships with yourself and others.
Contact Dr. Tacianna to schedule your free initial consultation today!
585.752.5320 | firstname.lastname@example.org