Mindfulness is based on mindfulness and is increasingly practiced in society, do we know its benefits? What does mindfulness meditation do for our health?
Two years ago I wrote ” Can meditation change my life? », An article where I briefly reviewed what we understand by meditation, how were my beginnings and what changes I had noticed so far. Today I propose to detail the benefits I have experienced as a result of the constant practice of mindfulness meditation and how I have managed to integrate the habit in my day today.
How have I adopted the habit of leading a mindful life?
After starting with written meditations, with a deep work of self-knowledge by the hand of a psychologist and having included in my weekly routines the practice of yoga and meditation, the adoption of the habit of living with full attention has responded more to the need/convenience of the moment, that the objective that I could have set.
When you realize that, really, there is a different way of living from life and that the well-being experienced is not like anything previously known, what else can you be born to do? Well live with full attention at the present moment and be happy despite the vagaries of life!
The way I practice mindfulness meditation today ranges from writing a diary, doing brief formal meditations, bringing my attention to the present moment when I live the purest happiness, and even experiencing with conscience the anger, the arguments, and the pains, for example.
This has not happened overnight, of course, but I assure you that when you start to meditate and develop the ability to observe what happens in an attentive, separate and nonjudgmental way, you are not born behaving differently. Trust me!
In my first book, Slow Life, Practical Guide for a true change of life, I talk about all the small changes that a person can make to experience this much talked about transformation and one of the most repeated recommendations is “ask yourself what proposal connect with you ». As well! That’s where the capacity for observation comes in: as you ask yourself what connects you, you develop and at the same time make use of your capacity for mindfulness.
If you ask how to start meditating, you have a lot of information on the internet, like on this website or my own blog, Spiritual Woman.
And what changes have I noticed in all this time?
As I was saying, the main change that you experience when you start to live with full attention is a kind of deep and inexplicable well-being that usually survives all kinds of ups and downs.
Of course we are still angry, stressing and living a human life, as humans that we are , but believe me when I tell you that the experience of living changes radically, you make better decisions, connect with your goals and purposes, lose more easily what you already it does not serve you and you cling to well-being without conditions.
Now, in my experience, there are seven specific benefits that are worth commenting in order to encourage you to try it, if not you have already launched. We go with them!
Management of stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety do not disappear because life continues to put trials and we continue to generate thoughts that stress us, however, the practice of mindfulness helps improve our relationship with these feelings and the sources of them. We identify better when we are stressed or when we are experiencing anxiety, and we develop the capacity to respond to it from the calm, trying not to add stress to stress.
Improvement of relationships with others
The practice of mindfulness when we relate to people improves the experience and helps us to maintain an active listening, not to feed our internal chatter and to better understand what may be happening within the other person. This is essential to nurture our compassion, understanding, and empathy towards others, which ultimately improves our relationships.
Identification of emotions and the ability to decide about it
The mindfulness meditation teaches us to observe and enables us to notice what happens at all levels. We notice our thoughts, the emotions that are unleashed, what sensations we have and where they have come from, etc. The sadness will continue to be sadness, and shame and insecurity too, but by experiencing them separately, as outsiders, we understand that there are circumstances that make us feel that way and that, far from fighting against it, we can embrace it like any other life experience.
Work well-being
Less stress and more organization, alignment, and faster decisions. Since I practice mindfulness in certain moments of my days, I have noticed that my relationship with work is more bearable. Normally responsibilities weigh on us as obligations and we try to carry out the work based on willpower and repeat that “we have to do it”. Mindfulness meditation has helped me a lot to notice when something is weighing me down. And what is my tendency to face that situation? When I observe that I am “forcing” myself to do something instead of connecting with my deepest desires, I simply pause and reconfigure my perspective. And this has shown me greater well-being, better time management and the stress that certain tasks or deadlines cause me.
Improvement in rest and sleep conciliation
I’m not going to lie to you, I love to sleep and normally I find it very easy to fall asleep, however, I have my days, like everyone else. With practice, I have developed my own relaxation techniques. My way of letting worries pass by and not staying stuck to them.
Consciousness about my happiness
Without a doubt, this is another of the benefits that I have been able to experience. And that I think it is important to highlight here. Has it ever happened to you that you are having such a happy day that you fly by? And when you want to realize it is over? It happens often with holidays, with a party, the day of graduation, when you go to a wedding, etc. Well, the practice of mindfulness has taught me that in those moments I can bring my attention to the present moment and live it intensely. By bringing my consciousness to the happy moment, I manage to live it and not just pass by it. Test it! By the way, I invite you to read “Holidays and full attention” where this topic is also discussed.
Notable changes in the experience of anger, outrage, discussions, etc.
Indeed, the experience of becoming angry, indignant and having discussions changes completely. First of all, I’ve noticed that I get a lot less angry. I’m unworthy and I rarely argue about anything, sometimes I wonder if this is mindfulness or apathy!
Regardless of jokes, getting angry with the ability to practice mindfulness meditation at all times is very interesting because the storm that usually makes us explode never takes place. In my case, I notice what is making me angry. I notice how I feel and I try to understand why I am getting this way. During those seconds my mind is occupied in observing the fire without adding more firewood! So many times I end up understanding that something annoys me. But I do not experience anger as such, I do not know if I can explain myself!
Definitely…
The practice of mindfulness meditation in the present moment not only presents theoretical benefits. But there are studies that are demonstrating the changes and many people who are experiencing them. I encourage you to try it!
And, I did not want to finish this essay without commenting on something. In case you have spent some time practicing mindfulness, yoga, and meditation. Or trying to learn on your own, do not despair! If you have not noticed changes like the ones I have told you. Do not worry, we are all different and live different experiences.
It may take you a little longer to notice a certain benefit. And yet you are already living another that I do not even know exists. These seven benefits that I have told you are totally my personal experience. And, as such, it can be very different from yours!