Most people go through their lives in reaction-mode. They respond to something that happens in their environment – a conversation, a changing traffic light, the boss calling a meeting – but they often aren’t truly aware of the world around them. They can be so focused on the distractions of life that they aren’t actually experiencing life.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “be more mindful” or “be present in your day,” but do you know what that really means? Is it simply paying attention to your surroundings or is there some deeper concept to be explored? Are there benefits to being mindful?
Strictly speaking, mindfulness is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as, “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.”
In practice, being mindful does encompass an awareness of your surroundings, but being present also means to stay focused on the here and now. For example, worrying about a work trip that will happen next week distracts from the joy you might take in playing catch with your son right this minute. Because you are absorbed by something other than playing with your child, you are denying yourself the full experience of being with him.
To be mindful, you might focus on the sound of the ball hitting your glove when you catch a ball he has thrown. You may enjoy the warmth of the sun on your skin or hearing your son exclaim, “yes!” when he catches a difficult toss of the ball. Or, you might listen to a bird chirping in the tree or smell your neighbor’s freshly mown lawn.
When you choose to be mindful, you experience your life more richly instead of just cruising through it.
In today’s high-paced, digital world, slowing down and just taking in the world around you can be challenging. Not many of us are able to fully relax: we’re always thinking of the next task we have to do, checking texts and emails, or planning the next activity. This stressful way of living can lead to health concerns, as well as to emotional and psychological issues.
Mindfulness, however, can:
Mindfulness is done by keeping your attention on the present – on what you are experiencing in that particular moment. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you are doing, you simply tune in to the experience of the here and now.
An article from HelpGuide.org says, “You can choose any task or moment to practice informal mindfulness, whether you are eating, showering, walking, touching a partner, or playing with a child or grandchild. Attending to these points will help:
Mindfulness can also be done as part of practices such as yoga, aikido, and tai chi training, as well as being a form of meditation in its own right.
Anxiety is connected to our thoughts and triggered by our reaction to them.
By being mindful, we can learn to calm the emotion behind these thoughts and begin to stop reacting to them.
“Practice makes perfect,” as the saying goes. You probably won’t experience a total release of anxiety the first time you try mindfulness, but you should get some relief from your concerns.
If you keep practicing, you will improve over time. Each time you focus on the present, your mind gets a chance to relax so you can see things from a new perspective.
In Getting to Know Anxiety Drs. Rosen and Gross offer readers an overview of today’s challenging mental health issues and the most current treatment methods available, as well as practical strategies for mental and emotional self-care.
If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, we can help. For more information, contact The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders in Delray Beach, Florida or call us today at 561-496-1094.
Dr. Andrew Rosen PHD, ABPP, FAACP is a Board-Certified Psychologist and the Founder and Director of The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders, as well as, the Founder of The Children’s Center for Psychiatry Psychology and Related Services.
Dr. Andrew Rosen PHD, ABPP, FAACP is a Board-Certified Psychologist and the Founder and Director of The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders, as well as, the Founder of The Children’s Center for Psychiatry Psychology and Related Services.
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