What exactly is mindfulness? This term has been defined in different ways in different studies on the subject, but most definitions match in two ways:
1) A deliberate awareness of your current state, thoughts and feelings.
2) An open attitude towards them, without judgment
Can a person achieve a state of “full consciousness”?o mindfulness by practicing certain meditation exercises.
Mindfulness-related meditation? Do not confuse with meditation related to religious practices What is the difference?
While meditation related to Buddhism and other religions has to do with concentration in breathing or a mantra that is repeated several times, to achieve a kind of spiritual enlightenment, the mental exercise of mindfulness is linked to being attentive, lucid and adopted. a posture without criticism to be more aware of your thoughts to avoid feeling tormented by them so that you can handle them better.
To achieve a state of mindfulness, it is necessary to devote time to training the mind. Many people take classes to learn mindfulness-related techniques. These courses usually consist of several group sessions with an average duration of two hours for eight weeks. It’s not a magic wand that works right away, but the harder you try to get them, the better the results.
Why spend so much time learning this skill? Because it has a positive effect on conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and chronic pain, it improves your concentration and helps you overcome depression, anxiety and addictions.
When we see all the benefits of “mindfulness,” we may think it seems too good to work. Is there really any evidence that it works? Definitely yes. According to the Be Mindful website, several clinical studies have yielded the following results: a reduction of about 70% of anxiety and a continuous reduction in anxiety up to three years after the course. visits and increased antibodies that fight the disease.
Other studies have shown better sleep quality and improvements in different physical conditions such as fibromyalgia and psoriasis. Timothy A. Psychyl, who conducted a study on the effects of mindfulness, says that the practice can even help with procrastination.
Professor Mark Milliams of the University of Oxford explains (in a video posted on the web) how?It helps manage stress and thus helps us not to feel so exhausted, overwhelmed and irritable.
Williams exhibits something surprising: when we are in a hurry, rushing to and fro to do a thousand things, we experience the same emotional response as if we were running from a predator. It sabotages our ability to concentrate and continue with our tasks.
It also states that mindfulness helps us to appreciate every activity we carry out and to find peace of mind in a frantic world, in this way we achieve a better concentration and memory.
Image courtesy of Hugh Bell