How mindfulness works?

In our daily lives, we experience hundreds of thousands of thoughts—sometimes we think about our to-do list, the discussion we had with our boss, the pressures on us to perform, or even the memories of the past we regret.  Sometimes we imagine the worst happening or get stuck in unhelpful emotional states.  Other times we find ourselves caught in thought during a conversation with a friend or loved one.  While this mental chatter is a normal part of our internal world, it can take away from what we are actually experiencing in the present moment.

Mindfulness is a way to bring us back to the present moment, giving our brains a necessary break from the regrets or disappointments of the past and anxieties of the future.  Mindfulness is a practice focused on bringing attention to the sensations in and around you just as they are, without judgment.  Thoughts and feelings may arise in this space, as they are a part of being human.  The goal in mindfulness is not to dismiss or reject emotions or thoughts but to acknowledge them without clinging to the heaviness they can bring. 

Our brains naturally tune out things we often perceive or don’t need to focus on—such as the sound of birds, our breathing, and other stimuli in our environment.  When we give notice to these elements of our world, we allow ourselves to be in the moment just as it is and connect to the world around us (hence why mindfulness is often referred to as a grounding technique).  For example, take a minute to focus on things you hear as you are reading this.  What can you become aware of at this moment?  You may notice unrelated thoughts coming up (which is expected).  Gently divert your attention back to what you can hear or sense around you.  Maybe take a moment to notice the path of your breath, moving in your nose, down through your lungs, and back out of your nose.  What does it feel like?  Don’t be discouraged if you continue to get stuck in thoughts or emotions; their presence doesn’t mean you are doing it wrong!

Overall, Mindfulness can let us have a mental hiatus from the internal hustle and bustle.  You can practice mindfulness with apps like Calm or Headspace via websites (i.e., www.mindfulnessexercises.com) or youtube.  Find what feels good to you and enjoy!