Benefits of Mindfulness
The purpose of this blog is mainly to teach students strategies, tools and techniques to manage stress. Mindfulness is one of them.
But what is Mindfulness and
what are the benefits of Mindfulness practice
Mindfulness is self-awareness. It is breathing, stopping, paying attention to the present moment. To sensations, perceptions, and thoughts, just accepting them without judging. And with a loving and compassionate attitude. Mindfulness is connecting to our own beings and to what is happening here and now. Our mind wanders from remembering the past to future plans, from memories to dreams. Thus missing the most important: Life itself as it is happening.
Jon Kabat-Zinn
John Kabat-Zin, the founder of Mindfulness, describes it as an ancient Buddhist practice (…) which has everything to do with waking up and living in harmony with oneself and with the world; with examining who we are, with questioning our view of the world and our place in it .
Adapted from Wherever you go, there you are by Jon Kabat-Zinn [ISBN-978-0-7499-2548-2]
waking up and living in harmony
Benefits of Mindfulness
Adapted from INEP programme (University of Málaga, Spain)
Exposition Mindfulness is a reflective practice. One sits still and observes what is happening in the body and in the mind. Without judgement. Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant.
When you expose yourself to the painful sensations by doing Mindfulness practices the discomfort associated with pain and emotional reactivity may be reduced.
Acceptance When you do Mindfulness practices you are receptive to what you observe, think and feel at every moment. Mindfulness may help you just «accept» what is happening and learn not to resist the present experience. Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant.
Sustained attention The practice of Mindfulness may help you cope with difficult emotions by trying not to avoid negative emotional states. Just observing and accepting them.
Cognitive change Mindfulness practice may produce changes in both our thoughts and our attitude stemming from them.
Self-management When you have practiced Mindfulness for a while self-observation may have improved and also the abilities in decision making and forms of coping.
Relaxation The purpose of Mindfulness is not, paradoxical as it may seem, to induce relaxation, but it is one of the consequences of practice.
La vida, sin prisa
