“The destiny of every human being is decided by what goes on inside Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience
– Jon Kabat-Zinn –
What Is Mindfulness ?
Mindfulness from a therapeutic, secular perspective is a conscious awareness of our present moment. It can be defined as the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness is a quality that every human being already possesses, it’s not something you have to conjure up, you just have to learn how to access it.
The Basics of Mindfulness Practice
Mindfulness helps us put some space between ourselves and our reactions, breaking down our conditioned responses. It’s often been said that it’s very simple, but it’s not necessarily easy and requires practice
How does it work?
- Set aside some time and space.
- Observe the present moment as it is.
- Let your judgments roll by.
- Return to observing the present moment as it is.
- Be kind to your wandering mind.
The Types of Mindfulness Practice
While mindfulness is innate, it can be cultivated through practice of proven techniques. Whenever you bring awareness to what you’re directly experiencing via your senses, or to your state of mind via your thoughts and emotions, you’re being mindful. And there’s growing research showing that when you train your brain to be mindful, you’re actually rewiring your brain.
- Seated, walking, standing, and moving meditation (it’s also possible lying down but often leads to sleep);
- Short pauses we insert into everyday life;
- Merging meditation practice with other activities, such as yoga or sports.
8 Facts About Mindfulness:
- Mindfulness is not obscure or exotic
- Mindfulness is not a special added thing we do
- You don’t need to change
- Mindfulness has the potential to become a transformative social phenomenon.
- Anyone can do it.
- It’s a way of living.
- It’s evidence-based.
- It sparks innovation.
Benefits of Mindfulness
- It can increase self-awareness.
- Enhance performance
- Gain insights
- Reduce stress
- Promote self-observation
- Increase our our attention to others’ well-being
- It helps people find more effective ways to communicate.
- It can help people take responsibility for their thoughts and actions.
- Helps to suspend judgement
- Unleashes natural curiosity
- Approaching our experience with warmth & kindness.
The Use of Mindfulness in Therapy
Although mindfulness has been rooted as an ancient practice, the mindfulness-based interventions are becoming widely accepted methods in the recent times. In the 1970s, Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of the mindfulness-based stress reduction program, was one of the first individuals to attempt to integrate Buddhist principles of mindfulness into his work in science and medicine. Research shows that the integration of mindfulness to certain therapeutic modalities has helped in deepening the therapeutic relationship, and addressing the symptoms associated with many mental health challenges or emotional concerns.
Currently, there are four recognized therapy models that incorporate mindfulness practices such as; Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
What To Expect At Your Visit
Perhaps you’re down or anxious, not confident, feeling unsure or how to plan the next major step of your life or just feel that you aren’t living the life you were meant to lead. Whatever your needs may be, I am here to offer professional guidance, confidential self-discovery, true autonomy, positive outlook and empathetic support without any judgement.
Your initial appointment will likely be more rewarding if you do a little homework ahead of time. Doing so will not only help you clarify why you are seeking professional help but will also help the therapist.
Before your appointment, make a list of:
- Any issues, concerns, or symptoms you are coping with, even if they seem to be unrelated or are not the reason why you are seeking therapy
- Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes
- All medications, vitamins or other supplements that you’re taking, including doses
- Questions to ask your Therapist
