Mindfulness…What is it and How can We Practice it?

Mandeep Jassal, Cognitive and Behavioral Therapist explains ways to practice mindfulness and its benefits.

Benefits

Dealing with pain. Pain is a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to rule you. Mindfulness can help you reshape your relationship with mental and physical pain.

Being Connected. Ever find yourself staring blankly at a friend, lover, child, and you’ve no idea what they’re saying? Mindfulness helps you give them your full attention.

Lower stress. There’s lots of evidence these days that excess stress causes lots of illnesses and makes other illnesses worse. Mindfulness decreases stress.

Concentration. It can be frustrating to have our mind stray off what we’re doing and be pulled in six directions. Meditation hones our innate ability to focus.

3 Ways to Practice Mindfulness (Internally and Externally) 

Internally refers to specifically setting time aside while using all of your senses (what can I hear, see, feel, smell, taste).

  1. Practice focusing on your breath for 10 minutes. Notice thoughts come and go, but gently bring your attention back to the present.
  2. Mindfully playing with your children.
  3. Mindfully engaging in the book you are reading.

Externally refers to activities we are already doing during our day and using all our senses (what can I smell, taste, hear, see, feel).

  1. Focusing your attention on when you are making a cup of tea/coffee.
  2. Being present when having a shower.
  3. Mindfully listening to your favorite music.

(Written by: Mandeep Jassal, Cognitive and Behavioral Therapist, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Practitioner)