Mindfulness is basically awakening and knowing what you are doing in the present moment.
The practice of mindfulness enables us to live in the present moment without being judgmental to the experience we are having, and to switch the mind from doing mode to being mode wherein we can feel more still, as doing mode is a problem solving mode easily leads us to either desire of getting rid of or solving our negative thoughts and emotions. In this way, we recognize our negative thinking patterns that drive us into anxiety, fear, and depression, and we learn not to follow those patterns any more.
Mindfulness practice is an awareness that we know from the time we were born, but over time, this feature of ours dulls and disappears in modern daily life. Many of us live in a rush in the automatic pilot, without even realizing what we feel or do, and then we prefer to think of the boredom this life creates and to “enter the role of the victim” or “believe that a problem, deficiency will never pass”. However, all this creative is not real and it is possible to become free from them and live a more fulfilled life with mindfulness.
What can we re-develop living with mindfulness?
- We know the negative thought patterns that exist in our minds, we get rid of depression, anxiety disorder, a constant inner distress, dissatisfaction or feeling unwell, we start to take advantage of the limitless opportunities that life offers us.
- We start to observing our thoughts like actors on a theatre stage, and we learn not to exaggerate them. In other words, we realize that the negative thoughts such as that we are worthless or that we are always inadequate, we learn not to give importance.
- We will protect ourselves from going back to the past, feeling regret, sadness or anger, cutting into the future and feeling fear and anxiety, enrich our lives by living here and now.
- Without realizing what we are doing, we spontaneously come out of the automatic, hasty behaviours we do with old beliefs and thoughts, the feeling of living like a victim with another saying, and the state of inner distress, without being forced or criticizing ourselves.
- We learn that even if we are feeling unpleasant at the moment, we can experience it as it is, without running away and without fear. We discover when feeling obliged to be happy is made even more miserable.
- We learn to accept ourselves and others as they are heard, when demanding judgment.
What can Mindfulness do?
- Preventing the Depression: Improving ability of recognize negative thinking patterns, and preventing depression before it starts.
- Reducing Stress and Burnout: Improving ability to manage stress and burnout
- Increasing Focus: Improving ability to pay attention, focus and concentrate
- Improving Physical and Psychological Well-being: improving ability to enjoy life.
Is Mindfulness religious or just practice of Yoga or Meditation?
No. Mindfulness is a practice of paying attention in the present moment and doing it with non- judgment. Meditation and yoga are included in these practices but it is not required to know or have done those practices before. On the other hand, Mindfulness is based on mindfulness-based
cognitive therapy (“MBCT”) which is introduces Prof. Dr. John Kabat Zinn and co-developed by Professor Mark Williams of Oxford University, MBCT is recommended by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and is as effective as drug for preventing depression. It also works for
stress reduction and burnout, increasing well-being, and those who are struggling to keep up with the modern society’s demands. Mindfulness has also been thoroughly researched and successfully implemented in hospitals, businesses, education and the military.