Sunday, October 9, 2011

WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?  


Mindfulness is to bring one's complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis.  Being "mindful" helps to "retrain" the mind to recognize and break conditioned patterns of thinking, feeling and reacting.  In this way, we can then make conscious choices over our reactions and the way we live our lives....moment by moment....day by day......and year by year.

Mindfulness involves paying complete attention in a nonjudgmental way to our thoughts, feelings and sensations.  

It trains us to "let go" of our past and future thoughts so that we can live in the present moment without fear, anxiety, hurt, sorrow.  We are so often trapped in anticipation of the future or regret of the past that we are blocked from experiencing the current moment for what it truly is.


BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS

Decreases level of stress hormones along with secondary physical or emotional symptoms.  It slows down heart rates, decreases blood pressure and strengthens the immune system.

Mindfulness reconnects us with the basic "wholeness" within ourselves and reminds us of our connection to the rest of life.

It helps us to know ourselves and resist unhealthy urges to conform to social pressure and change one’s mind. At the same time, you are strong enough not to be defensive when presented with alternative views that warrant your consideration. You can see more clearly who you are when you are quiet and peaceful.

Mindfulness exercises like meditation develop inner calm, emotional control, perseverance, and a strong sense of self so that you receive clear signals concerning what is out of balance and what hurts. When you respect these signals and welcome them rather than push them away (avoidance), you no longer need to turn the signal off by indulging. You then become less likely to continue any destructive, automatic unhealthy behavior/responses you have developed.


It shows us how to become a human "being", not a human "doing"

Source:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness_(psychology)




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