Being mindful is about remaining in the present moment and being aware of your current surroundings, thoughts, emotions and feelings. It is a practice often used in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy but also across different types of therapies. Read on for ways that mindfulness can support your overall wellbeing, particularly when it comes to managing stress.
Many theories of change agree that you cannot change something if you are not first mindful of what needs to be changed. Mindfulness is a term and idea that is used a lot in different areas and in different ways. Some people refer to it as a type of meditation, some people refer to it as “being in the moment”, some people might not be sure exactly how to define it. Building mindfulness as a strong habit out of a clear and value-driven goal to be more aware and purposeful in your own life is one of the bedrock skills used to treat and protect against mental health challenges. This is done by keeping judgments and perceptions to a minimum while increasing the informative power of facts on your thoughts and emotions. This is a skill like any other; the more you practice, make mistakes, and then try again, the more effective you will become.
Having challenges with your quality of life can come from many sources. When you take what happens to you and combine it with your reactions (thoughts, feelings, beliefs, choices, etc.) you get the formula for your quality of life. Most of what happens to us lies outside of our control, which can influence thoughts and feelings we often feel initially, in new situations. However, it is important to understand that the subsequent thoughts and feelings we have, and the beliefs they form, are very influential on our overall quality of life. It is here that a skill referred to as Loving Kindness was developed from eastern meditative practices as a way of reducing stress-reinforcing beliefs and improving overall quality of life.
May is Meditation Month however it doesn’t just need to be May to practice the daily benefits of mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness is the practice of staying present, and focusing on the moment. Research shows that practicing mindfulness through meditation or other relaxation strategies daily can lead to many benefits for both our physical and emotional wellbeing.
