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THE WAY OF MINDFULNESS

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"the real voyage of discovery consist not in seeking out new landscapes but in having new eyes"  

                                                   -Marcel Proust  

 

 

Nowadays there is a lot of talk about Mindfulness and it can be a bit confusing.  Personally, mindfulness is a way of life.  

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Mindfulness is the awareness that arises from intentionally focusing our attention on our moment-to-moment experience objectively and without judgement.  

 

We do not add our likes and dislikes to the experience or disown anything from it.  Rather,  we look at what is present before us with a sense of curiosity, as if seeing it with beginner's eyes. -We become the witness, not the judge- 

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All human beings must have some awareness in order to function and survive, but studies have shown that we spend almost fifty percent of our time lost in our thoughts mostly unaware of what is going on in and around ourselves. 

 

When our wondering mind takes our attention away from what we are doing to entertain thoughts about the future or the past,  it steals our only opportunity to be totally engaged in the present moment.  When this occurs, studies show,  it deprives us of feeling fully alive, and generates unhappiness.  

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Mindfulness is an essential practice and response to the complexity of our times, in which we often feel stressed and overwhelmed.

 

By gaining insight into the nature of one’s mind from a de-centered perspective 

we are able to overcome the noise and allow ourselves to act with more clarity, focus, and calm.  We become more effective and in control of our lives. 

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A Mindfulness practice can: 

 

• Reduce stress, anxiety and depression

• Help manage chronic pain

• Improve emotional regulation

• Improve memory and cognitive functioning

• Help manage chronic illnesses and addictions

• Provide steadiness in the face of life's inevitable challenges 

• Improve general well-being 

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Note:  While the effectiveness of Mindfulness practices fostering wellbeing have been

firmly established, it is wise not to assume it is the cure for all our problems and needs to be placed in perspective.

 

In terms of research, Mindfulness is still a very young field and although it has shown to be very promising many more studies are needed..

 

  

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