When it comes to mindfulness, you may picture a Buddhist monk sitting under a towering tree, adorning a beige robe, and meditating the morning away. While this is a form of mindfulness, it’s not just for the monks of the world. Mindfulness can drastically benefit anyone, and it can be as simple as spending just a few minutes a day practicing it.
We’re here to offer a list of 4 reasons to start practicing mindfulness so you can see for yourself. Take a short break from scheduling your move with Black Tie Moving Cincinnati, and let’s jump into it.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a practice that has been around since the dawn of humans, and it’s likely that you’ve experienced it at some point in your life. Think of a time when you saw something awe-inspiring, like mountains for the first time or waves crashing on the ocean, and you had no thoughts at all. You were completely absorbed in the moment. This is what mindfulness is all about – being completely present and aware of what’s in front of you or what’s within you without judgment or resistance.
Improves Self-Awareness
Self-awareness levels drastically increase when you regularly practice mindfulness. Self-awareness is the ability to notice what thoughts and emotions you have running through you, and it’s essential for self-growth. Without self-awareness, you live each day without noticing or learning from the emotions and thoughts you have. Improving your level of self-awareness is one of the most important reasons to start practicing mindfulness in your everyday life.
Enhances Relationships
Practicing mindfulness is an incredibly effective way to enhance and cultivate healthy and positive relationships. As we know, regularly engaging in mindfulness causes an increase in self-awareness, which is crucial when it comes to building positive relationships. On top of that, mindfulness also teaches you to be more compassionate and empathetic. This allows you to connect with others openly and deeply in a way that makes them feel valued, appreciated, and loved.
Decreases Mental Health Symptoms
The majority of mental health systems stem from a disordered way of thinking. Anxiety is the result of panicking about an unknown future and depression is often thinking about all that is “wrong” in life. Mindfulness intervenes when it comes to struggling with mental health symptoms by shifting your thoughts to focus on what is true and what is in front of you. It’s no surprise that mindfulness practices are now used in many clinical settings to help people suffering from mental health disorders.
Increases Focus
It should come as no surprise that practicing mindfulness helps to increase your focus and awareness. When you’re engaged in mindfulness practices, you’re training your mind to shift back to what’s in front of you once you start to notice it wander. This acute awareness carries over even once you stop a formal mindfulness practice, and it’s incredibly helpful if you’re someone who finds it hard to focus. With focus comes greater creativity, work product, and productivity which makes mindfulness an incredibly useful tool when it comes to your working environment.
