Mindfulness, What It Is, And What It Isn’t.
There’s that word again - mindfulness. It’s become so overused that it’s become irritating on many levels. In fact, if you haven’t dismissed this blog by the title alone, chances are you shut down completely when it comes to learning about mindfulness and the health benefits practicing it can help you achieve.
Let’s start with what mindfulness is not.
Simply put, mindfulness is not multitasking. That’s it. That means to practice mindfulness, you need to stop multitasking.
Here’s what that means:
Going for a walk outside without listening to music or talking on the phone. You walk and simply notice the scenery around you. Take note of what your five senses pickup.
Watching a movie with your family or alone doesn’t include also scrolling social media. You watch the movie with your family and share the experience without distraction. Resist the urge to fold laundry or catch up on emails.
Stop rushing through things to finish them quickly because you have so much to accomplish. This includes meals, conversations with friends, conversations with children, spouses, parents, etc. Even if you are there in physical form but focused on your to-do list, you are negating the valid health benefits of allowing yourself to be in the moment.
Scientists have found that changing our need to multitask into a more present-moment focus (a.k.a. practicing mindfulness) greatly improves our physical and mental health.
For Example:
Physical Benefits of Mindfulness
Lowers Blood Pressure
Reduces Chronic Pain
Improves Sleep Quality
Heart Disease Improvements
Helps IBS and Gastrointestinal Difficulties
Mental Benefits of Mindfulness
Alleviates Stress
Reduces Anxiety
Reduces Depression
Scientists Have Proven Mindfulness Works In Eating Disorder Treatments
OCD Related Disorders Symptom Reduction
It doesn't have to be hours of meditation and "clearing your mind" (not likely to happen anyway); mindfulness is simply just allowing yourself to notice what is going on with your five senses at the moment without focusing on anything else.
It just so happens that the path to opening our intuitive gifts is the same path as practicing mindfulness.
