What can you learn at the Mindfulness Summit?

People rely on different techniques to keep their bodies and minds functioning and healthy. Mindfulness is one such method that has been growing in popularity, often backed by studies showcasing its various mental and physical health benefits. 

Rather than a skill that only certain people are gifted in, mindfulness is a type of meditation that anyone may learn with practice and patience. There are several ways to be more mindful. One such way is the Mindfulness Summit, a non-profit conference for individuals who want to immerse themselves in a mindfulness experience.

What is the Mindfulness Summit?

As a concept, mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist teachings. Meditation can help a person be more mindful and come to acceptance. However, mindfulness has made its way to the West as a more secular form of teaching. Someone doesn't necessarily have to be religious to be mindful, and meditation isn't the only form of mindfulness. 

Those who created the Mindfulness Summit believe that the benefits found through mindfulness can change the world. They wanted to create a guide that would be easy for everyone to understand, so they created the Summit.  

What can you learn at the Mindfulness Summit?

In 2023, the Mindfulness Summit has 40 speakers. Each one of these speakers uniquely achieves mindfulness through meditation, therapy, focus, breathing, visualization, movement, journaling, or other practices. 

Breathing exercises are a common practice people use to become more mindful. At the Mindfulness Summit, you can learn different techniques to control your breathing and understand what being mindful means to the expert presenting. While the fundamentals of mindfulness may be the same for every person, many have their own interpretations. 

At this Summit, you can gain information from different mindfulness gurus and experts with unique opinions. You can see how various people uniquely incorporate mindfulness into their life, picking and choosing which might work for you and sparking new ideas for your routine.

This October, consider participating in the Mindfulness Summit as it's streaming or purchase the videos afterward. It may offer positive change to your life.

How mindfulness may change the world

Mindfulness has been proven to change the world in many ways. The people at the Mindfulness Summit believe that the practice has built a connection to the world that's much deeper than other coping mechanisms. Some feel their "mindful awakening" has helped them understand human challenges and their own mental health. 

Current events can leave societies exhausted, stressed, and nervous about the future. While there have been difficult events for centuries, the internet has caused many of these struggles to be more visible. The balance between caring for others and yourself can be difficult to maintain when exposed to many challenging images, videos, and stories. 

According to the Summit, mindfulness may be one of the most effective ways to change the planet. The Summit believes peace and balance would be possible worldwide if everyone could find it themselves. Their goal is to teach these principles to others to support the growth of mindfulness worldwide. 

What are the benefits of mindfulness

While mindfulness might not work for everyone, there are a few potential benefits you can receive from frequent practice, including the following. 

Heightened empathy and self-compassion 

Empathy refers to the ability to look at someone else's perspective and see the world through their eyes. In essence, you put yourself into their shoes. Empathy allows you to feel compassion for another person and feel the emotions they've expressed to you that they feel. 

Empathy doesn't necessarily come naturally to everyone. Some individuals might struggle to experience it and may focus more inward. Others might provide too much empathy or struggle to set boundaries, putting their self-care aside to focus on the needs of those they love. 

One aspect of mindfulness is balancing helping others and being aware of your needs and preferences. When you practice mindfulness, you can take a moment to ask your body how it feels and consider what emotions are arising for you. 

Enhanced senses 

Some people take their senses for granted or don't realize how they use them daily. If a disability does not impact one or more of your senses, you may be able to touch the world around you, hear sounds, smell the air, taste delicious foods, and look at the beauty around you. Some people don't take time to observe what the world offers and may instead ignore certain aspects. 

Being mindful can mean embracing all areas the world has to offer. A mindful person's eyes may consider each detail of their surroundings and digest the nuances others don't see. When a mindful person listens to music, they might try to hear every instrument and focus on the emotions the song elicits. A mindful person may consider the scents of a forest during a hike or use candles to feel more comfortable at home. People practicing mindfulness may use their senses to connect more with their world. 

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind, you may also be able to use your senses differently. Try using the senses you have to connect with your environment and notice what feelings and thoughts arise. 

Reduced worry and anxiety 

Stress may sometimes serve a purpose, as it is a survival mechanism many living creatures are born with, including humans. A minor amount of stress can motivate you to finish your job or chores. However, a significant amount of unhealthy stress can cause one to imagine unlikely scenarios and worry about the future. Worries can sometimes lead to anxiety or be a sign of an underlying anxiety disorder. 

Those who incorporate mindfulness into daily life experience less stress and anxiety. A mindful individual may be able to take a few deep breaths and observe their thoughts. Even when the thoughts don't disappear, they may watch as the thoughts arrive, note their existence, and let them go without judgment. These types of practices have been associated with reduced anxiety. 

A regulated body and mind 

Mindfulness can make it easier to feel the sensations in your body. If you are anxious, you can identify where you're holding your anxiety in your body to focus your mindfulness practice on that area. If you feel unusual sensations throughout your body, mindfulness may help you make sense of them.

Mindfulness techniques for body awareness include the body scan, which involves feeling energy move throughout your body from your head to your toes. A body scan can be a productive technique to master for emotional health. 

Improved mental health 

Mindfulness may improve your mental health if you're living with a mental illness, chronic stress, or another concern. If you are already mentally healthy, you may have more success maintaining that healthy state as you age by practicing mindfulness. 

Mindfulness has been shown to reduce symptoms of mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, and substance use disorders. It may also improve your quality of life and equip you with more confidence to confront mental health challenges as they arise. 

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources.

Mindfulness-based therapy options 

If you have trouble achieving mindfulness, a mindfulness-based therapist might offer support. They can guide you through the steps to achieve mindfulness in a way that benefits your therapy goals. Even if you do not have space in your schedule for an in-person therapy session, online therapy can allow you to practice mindfulness from home with a professional. 

Through an online platform like BetterHelp, you can specify the type of therapist you'd like to connect with and your goals for therapy. Once matched with a therapist, you can choose between phone, video, or chat sessions with your provider. 

One study assessed the effectiveness of an online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for improving mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers found that these online MBIs significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress for participants, showcasing the potential benefit of online services.