Tag: Mindfulness

We are always multitasking, especially women. Women can be folding the laundry while watching a television show but still making sure the kids are okay or cooking dinner while listening to a podcast. We are regularly doing more than one thing at the same time. I believe women are the masters of multitasking. But mindfulness is the exact opposite of multitasking.

Mindful.org defines mindfulness as the ability to be fully present in the moment, being aware of where we are and what we are doing, but not overwhelmed by what is happening around us.

At any time during the day, one can practice mindfulness, which can have many benefits.

The Benefits

Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn brought mindfulness into mainstream medicine. According to Helpguide.org, he was the founder and former director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. He showed that practicing mindfulness brings improvement in both physical and psychological symptoms. It also provides a positive change in attitudes, behavior, and health.

Scientifically, experts view mindfulness as a critical element in reducing stress and enhancing overall happiness.

Mindfulness improves mental health.

Psychotherapists have used mindfulness meditation as a treatment for many problems like substance abuse, depression, eating disorders, anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, to name a few.

Mindfulness improves well-being

Because mindfulness focuses on the present, using this practice can help people not be so worried about the future or think about past regrets. Mindfulness makes it easier to be fully present in current activities and make them more pleasurable or enjoyable. Also, it helps with a positive attitude that contributes to the satisfaction of life.

Mindfulness improves physical health.

It can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, treat heart disease, and reduce chronic pain.

How can you practice mindfulness?

There are many ways to practice mindfulness; the primary goal of any mindfulness technique is to focus on the present, be alert, and focus on relaxation. Being present, there in the moment, not worrying about anything else but being present in the moment.

Meditation is the most common way to practice.

• Start with sitting straight back on a chair or with your legs crossed on the floor.
• Focus on your breathing.
• Once you have concentrated on your breathing, become aware of sounds and your ideas.
• Embrace your thoughts without judging good or bad, and if your mind starts to race, go back and concentrate on your breathing.

Can mindfulness have a Christian approach?

Absolutely! FocusOnTheFamily.com mentions how Christians and faith-based counselors use mindfulness as a therapy tool, Christ-integrated, by making mindfulness rooted in scripture and focus on connecting with God during the technique.

Psalm 104:34, “May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.” (NIV)

Prayer is a practical way that Christians apply mindfulness to their daily lives because when people pray or worship, they are concentrating on God; their focus is connecting with God and drawing God’s presence near.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray continually.” (NIV)

Some can be fearful because they find that mindfulness is self-centered or self-focus, but as a Christian, making it God-centered or God-focused shouldn’t be a problem. It is setting time apart to just be present in the moment, in that precious moment with God. It’s very comforting and brings so much peace.

In conclusion

Mindfulness has many benefits to our overall health. It is a technique that should be practiced because it can improve our focus. When done correctly, it can help bring us closer to God.

Set some time apart during the day, maybe in the morning before you start your day, or at night before bed to whine down and practice mindfulness for about five minutes, few times a week and see if you can notice a difference.

Let me know what difference it makes!

With Love, Heidy

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