Mindfulness? What is it? Have you heard of it? What does it mean to be mindful?

I am sure sometime throughout your life you have heard the word or have become familiar with people who say that they practice mindfulness. You have probably heard of Buddha. He was a great ascetic and sage who dedicated his life to the teachings of Buddhism and mindfulness. Those who practice yoga are very familiar with mindfulness as it is part of their daily lives.

So, what is mindfulness and how can it be applied to our busy lives? Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment.

As a therapist, I use mindfulness techniques with my clients in order to help reduce stress or any trauma like symptoms that they may be experiencing.

Mindfulness practice has been shown to reduce stress, reduce emotional reactivity and promote healthier relationships with others.

Do you ever feel really stressed, or react to things that are trivial in a negative way? How about your relationships? Are they unsatisfactory?

If you can answer “yes” to any these there may be plenty of opportunities for you to consider adding mindfulness into your daily practice.

This simple practice can be achieved through a few minutes of daily meditation,  yoga , exercise, or just really giving yourself the time to check in with yourself and be more aware of your feelings. Honoring yourself and giving yourself the time you deserve can be so rewarding in all aspects of your life.

We all deserve to be happy and finding healthy solutions that promote your own happiness may be the key to living the life that you deserve. Your relationships and overall wellbeing will certainly benefit.