WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?
Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, surrounding environment, through a gentle nurturing lens.
Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, that there is a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.
Though it has its roots in Buddhist meditation, it has a secular practice of mindfulness. During the past two decades, we’ve discovered a lot about mindfulness—and specifically meditation, which is one of the best ways to cultivate moment-to-moment awareness of ourselves and our environment. Mindfulness meditation practice can bring about physiological, psychological, and social benefits in our lives. From increases in gray matter in the brain to alleviating physical ailments such as migraines and fibromyalgia. The benefits of mindfulness and meditation practice more generally have been touted for everyone
The power of positivity has some potent benefits for our overall well-being.
Happiness, as they say is contagious. In this three-part series, to explore what it means to have hope, what makes our lives meaningful, and how to embrace the joy within and around us. There are simple tools for seeing the bright side and turning problems into opportunities.
By adopting a growth mindset when facing life’s inevitable challenges, we build resilience and grit, which makes it easier to find the silver lining in almost any situation. When we’re thinking more positively, we’re able to take in information more easily, reach our goals faster, find more meaning and purpose in life, and build a better relationship. Learning how to shift your perspective by doing something big or small that not only makes life look a little sunnier but also makes you feel better every day.
7 STEPS TO MINDFULNESS
The other thing to keep in mind is when we start to practice mindfulness, the prolonged state of focus on a particular sensation spotlights your perception, we don’t begin by entering a state of bliss. The first state we experience is agitation, which is normal in order for the brain to calm down and focus. It must enter this state first. The trick is to stay with it and focus on deliberate thoughts, that you can control. The more you are able to do this practice the more you release dopamine which is a reward system for the brain. You are now training you brain to go after this internal reward system instead of seeking it externally. The final step is deep sleep, only when you sleep does all the reprograming really go into effect.