Simply put, mindfulness is the act of being present in the now; being present and accepting of whatever is happening for you right now. This mean not thinking about that thing that happened earlier today and not thinking about that thing that you anticipate might possibly happen tomorrow. It's about just sitting with what is happening now. This generally is difficult for us and it's becoming increasingly more difficult as time goes on.
Think about coming home from a stressful day at work… we might think the best way for our brains to wind down is to sit and watch television, scroll through our phones and do some online shopping on our tablet all at the same time. We are expecting our brains to wind down somehow. But actually, this is likely causing them to become more overwhelmed and stressed.
So, unfortunately, the natural act of just being present in our lives has become something that we have to actively practice.
Studies have shown that mindfulness decreases stress, anxiety and depression. It boosts our overall well-being, our attention and concentration spans, improves our relationships, lets us know more about what we're thinking and what we're feeling. Studies are even starting to show that there are changes to our brain waves when we meditate and the area of our brains that are responsible for emotion regulation are bigger in those who meditate regularly. So, if you're meditating regularly or practicing mindfulness regularly, then you'll be much more able to regulate your emotions; you're going to become less stressed and less overwhelmed.
Watch this blog for more info coming soon on how to get some mindful moments!