Mindfulness 101

Mindfulness is fully experiencing and being aware in the present moment without looking through the lens of judgment or blame. The two types of practice are formal and informal.

Formal and Informal Mindfulness

In formal mindfulness meditation, we set aside time to sit silently with a mindful awareness of our breath, physical sensations in the body, emotions and thoughts. Otherwise known as Vipassana, translated as “insight”, which means having a clear understanding of what is happening as it happens. It calls for bringing attention to the body and mind without trying to change or alter our experience in any way.

Informal mindfulness is paying attention to what we’re doing while we’re doing it and can be applied to any activity such as eating, walking, exercising or any other experience we have during the course of our day. Think of it as simply noticing your emotions, physical sensations in the body and thoughts while being engaged in your experience. It’s like connecting with your “observer within.”

Cultivating a regular mindfulness practice allows us to open up to the possibility of becoming a witness to our own process. This enables us to make a choice to override and break free from our conditioned reactions that don’t serve us well and move towards a more neutral response.

Respond Instead of React

We can’t control much of our external environment, such as what other people do that might adversely affect us or certain problematic circumstances, but we can control how we manage and regulate our experiences. In other words, we can work towards responding instead of reacting. This entails taking a moment before saying or doing something we may later regret, which usually has no effect whatsoever on the original problem.  It’s a methodical and very effective way of handling stressful situations.

What the Research Says

Research has shown that mindfulness practices cause healthy changes in the brain and body and increases well-being, life satisfaction and peace of mind. Dr. Richard Davidson, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin and Jon Kabat-Zinn a professor at the University of Massachusetts found increased activity in the areas of the brain associated with positive affect and emotional regulation in those with a regular practice.

Other benefits that mindfulness research supports are:

• stress reduction
• an internal sense of stability and clarity
• decrease in anxiety, somatic distress, depression and recurring negative thoughts
• increase in empathy, compassion, attention and focus
• improved immune function and memory function
• decrease in emotional reactivity
• higher levels of relationship satisfaction

Changing Our Brain

As much as mindfulness meditation can help us to feel peaceful and calm it is not a relaxation technique. And while it may seem passive, the practice is a very active process.  It calls for being alert, focused and in the moment. This process carves out new neural pathways in the brain, meaning we are creating a new habit, so that over time it takes much less effort for us to see things in a neutral or more positive light, as long as we continue to practice.

Mindfulness techniques help us to slow down and recognize our tendencies and habitual patterns. When we allow ourselves to cultivate “being” instead of “doing” we can change our maladaptive patterns that cause us mental, physical, emotional and spiritual suffering. It’s really not about fixing or eliminating anything within ourselves. Again, it is simply about being and not striving to do anything. By engaging in this practice, we begin to learn about ourselves on a deeper level.  It’s pretty simple, really, and anyone can do it!

Mindfulness is a skill.  A very important skill if we want to live a fulfilling and gratifying life. It’s like learning to ride a bike: it’s challenging at first, but keep practicing and it becomes second nature. Be patient and gentle with yourself, put the time in and be amazed at the results!