Mindfulness

What is mindfulness you ask? Well, mindfulness is the ability to be present and fully aware of the present. There are potentially many of you who may find this ability challenging at times; especially if you find yourself facing current situations with emotions led by past experiences or the opposite, future possibilities.

What's So Good About Mindfulness?

Mindfulness can improve overall well-being. It can bring a sense of relief to everyday life by allowing us to enjoy the moments while actively being fully engaged. It can also encourage healthier approaches to dealing with adverse situations that may appear sporadically without anticipation. Focusing on the “now” potentially minimizes the amount of stress that may develop from focusing on the future (which is yet to come), or the past (which has already happened and cannot be changed). Focusing on the future or the past can potentially take you away from the possibilities of success and other positive events that can occur during the present moment.

Mindfulness and Physical Wellness.

In relation to physical wellness, mindfulness can improve physical wellness by reducing the risk of metabolic diseases, sleep disorders, and chronic pain. There are many studies that have proven results from the positive impact of mindfulness on physical wellness. According to the National Library of Medicine, “MBIs seem to share similar mechanisms with physical fitness by which they may influence cardiovascular responses to stress,” (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). In other words, practicing mindfulness mediates similar bodily responses to physical fitness and exercise.

Mindfulness and Mental Wellness.

In recent years, many therapists have leaned on mindfulness techniques to guide individuals through improving their mental health. These techniques have aided in various mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other psychosocial disorders.

Overall, mindfulness can have a positive impact on our overall health and state of being. Give it a chance! You will notice quite the improvement in your daily lives!

Below are two of the references I used for this post.

Reference:

Demarzo, M. M., Montero-Marin, J., Stein, P. K., Cebolla, A., Provinciale, J. G., & García-Campayo, J. (2014). Mindfulness may both moderate and mediate the effect of physical fitness on cardiovascular responses to stress: a speculative hypothesis. Frontiers in physiology, 5, 105. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2014.00105

Fjorback L. O. (2012). Mindfulness and bodily distress. Danish medical journal, 59(11), B4547.