Mindfulness - What, How & Why

What is Mindfulness?

The practice of mindfulness is absorbing the moment through your senses with these three key components: curiously, consistency (routine) with a non-judgmental attitude.

How does the mindfulness practice affect you physically and emotionally?

The brain is designed for survival and research shows the amygdala, the brain region that regulates emotion and motivation uses two-thirds of its neurons to detect bad news.  This means, like salmon, we swim against the current to our desired destination. This swim is easy for some and found to be challenging for others however like the determination and persistence of the salmon, a routine mindfulness practice will lessen or even reduce the size of the amygdala thereby decreasing negative outlook. A non-judgmental attitude is key here.

Why introduce a daily mindful practice?

We recommend a daily practice for its benefit of routine.  Consistency is one of the three key components to create physical change in the brain.  The practice can look very different for each person and it can also look different on a daily basis.

Examples of a Mindfulness Practice:

• Sitting quietly listening to all the sounds. Allowing the mind to be curious with a non-judgmental attitude. This can happen on the train, bus or plane...note you are quiet.
• Taking a slow scroll using your senses and acknowledging/capturing what you see, hear, feel, smell and even taste.
• Focusing on your breathing whilst at a red light.
• More formerly taking a yoga and meditation class.

The common factor is focus. To make a mindfulness practice a practice is your attention to the object of focus. Overtime with your consistency, the brain will lead you to these opportunities and the duration of time will lengthen.

The practice will result with a subtle but life changing shift in attitude that will  influence how you behave in relationships, how you concentrate and function at your job, how you react to adversity and stress, your decision-making skills, your interactions, your speech and so much more. 

This one practice can be the catalyst physically to...

• Boost immunity
• Cool Inflammation
• Reduce Heart Stress 
• Reduce Chronic Pain

How to start?

A mindful practice can literally happen anywhere at anytime. It can be formal or very informal. It can be 1minute or as long as you desire. 

Similar to working out your physical body, consistency is key and consistency compounds positive effects of strengthening how the mind regulates emotions and motivation.

• Start with a clear intention, "I will slow and observe the moment." Repeat this mantra and journal how this action will serve you. 
• There is no reason to create an entirely new routine... recognize an existing habit/routine. An example maybe making your coffee or tea in the morning. As the water comes to boil take that time to be still either standing or sitting to observe the world around you without judgement using all your senses.  When the water is ready your mindfulness practice is complete.  You will notice in time the act of observing (a mindful action) happens more often, like standing in line at the store or moments before you sleep.
• Find like minded people and join a class.

To join the Enlivenhere community try a free class, here.

"your heath care begins with self-care"