Mindfulness is said to have originated among ancient Buddhists and is very relevant for life today. It does not conflict with any beliefs or traditions; religious, cultural or scientific. It is a form of meditation, for all ages that increases awareness, clarity and acceptance of our present moment reality, in a non-judgemental way.
Mindfulness can simply be described as noticing that which we don’t normally notice because our heads are too busy in either the past or the future. It’s about taking more control over our focus of attention, rather than allowing our attention to be dominated by what distresses us, taking us away from the present moment.
Life consists of only moments, nothing more than that, so if you make the moment matter, it all matters. Yet we are living in an era of constant change, in an age of social media, where simply sitting is seldom an option as the constant “chatter” from social media, pressures and compulsive behaviours is so great.
Modern life these days is full of many small stressors happening simultaneously and amplifying each other. It builds up to a point that people no longer feel normal anxiety but become paralysed. All too often we function on autopilot and forget what we are meant to be doing.
Mindfulness has been proven to reduce stress and improve performance and is both recognised and approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. It is found to be as good for depression as medication and has been shown to help prevent relapses in depressed patients.
It is about simplicity, shifting attention away from the mundane and worry to concentrate on oneself and our surroundings. By focussing on sights, sounds, physical sensations, mental clarity can be achieved through our senses. Only focussing on our sensations themselves, not what they mean is helpful in reducing stress. It is a way of decluttering the brain from information overload and overwhelm.
Being quiet and present in the moment, without distractions gives us a chance to have a balanced perspective, clarity and it can boost creativity. However, concentration, being able to stop and think, needs cultivating. It’s not about zoning out, rather about zoning in. It allows us to be considered rather than react impulsively.
Silence provides the opportunity to develop a new relationship with ourselves and the world around us. With a lack of distraction to stimulate the mind, we can begin to experience a different and sublime dimension to life, allowing our innate wisdom to show itself.
It can be incorporated into every aspect of our life from walking to the bus/train/car for work, focussing on breathing during the commute, having mindful conversations and listening intently, accepting our thoughts without judging and undertaking slow breathing at our desk, giving you a focus.
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