Life is busy. We are constantly trying to multitask. We are thinking about what to cook for dinner on the drive home from work. We are folding laundry while watching the news. We are rushing through our days trying to finish our mounting to-do lists. And, along the way we are losing track of the present moment. We are missing out on our lives.
It might seem silly. I can hear you now, “I am living my life, what do you think I am doing?” But, when is the last time you really stopped and looked around? When is the last time you took in the scenery? You accepted your feelings, your current reality? That is the practice of mindfulness and its benefits are immense:
Overall Well-Being: Practicing mindfulness makes it easier to absorb lives moments as they occur. When you are mindful you are fully absorbed in activities, fully present in the moment. It makes it easier to deal with unpleasant events because rather than having the day’s events compound one another, you deal with one, you accept it, and you move on. You aren’t caught up in worrying about the future or the past. You are soaking up the present.
- Physical Health: Mindfulness reduces stress, leading to lower blood pressure, improved sleep, and the ability to alleviate chronic pain and gastrointestinal difficulties. If you are happier, you are going to feel better.
- Mental Health: The practices of mindfulness and meditation have been used frequently in the treatment of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and conflicts with others, among other things. If you are in the moment you aren’t worrying about what happened earlier or what is happening later. You aren’t dwelling on the what-ifs and the unknowns. You are being brought down-to-earth, out of your brain and into the physical place you stand.
- Acceptance: Some experts suggest the reason mindfulness works so well is it forces you to work through a conflict when it happens, in the present moment. It reduces avoidance and aversions by forcing you to accept and be part of life as it is.
There are several ways to practice mindfulness techniques and to “train” your brain to be more present day-to-day. It might seem difficult to get started because, after all, we are all very busy, but it will get easier as you go. Check out our blog for tips on how to get started.
The psychologists at Wellness Psychological Services are uniquely and expertly specialized in helping you learn to understand and apply mindfulness skills to help enhance your well-being. We welcome the chance to discuss an individualized plan to meet your needs. Contact us for an appointment anytime.
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