What is mindfulness? Are there any benefits for practicing mindfulness? Does meditation and mindfulness work?

We’ve already discovered the power of meditation. Mindfulness, however, is more than just a buzzword and the benefits of practicing mindfulness are humongous. This is a psychological as well as a spiritual practice. It involves growing your awareness of the mind, body spirit - all focused on the power of now. Regular mindfulness practice has tremendous benefits as we develop our thinking powers, emotional sensitivity, communication with self and others, and much more. We develop an awareness of the moment by tuning in to the current thoughts in a non-judgemental way. We no longer worry about the past and future and focus on creating beautiful experiences in the present. Our reactions to the external surroundings are controlled.

Practice Mindfulness Meditation with our brand new Mindfulness Practitioner® App

The benefits of practicing mindfulness are many. We list the top 10 ways mindfulness can be integrated into your life as shared by Life Leadership Coach and Mindfulness Practitioner , Dr. Paras. He firmly mentions that meditation and mindfulness can be cultivated as a practice and this improves your life in all the areas mentioned here.

Stressed? 10 Ways Mindfulness is Beneficial to lead a Stress-Free Life

1) Self-Care

In this fast-paced life, we show little time for emotional self-care. Practicing mindfulness as a routine is a self-care in itself. It shows you care to spend at least 5 minutes a day to improve yourself, talk to yourself, and discover what you like and dislike. Self-care is about doing the things you love. Mindfulness meditation develops your self-awareness and your mind listens to what you love to do. You naturally start activities that fulfill your soul. It could be the dance you wanted to shake a leg to or joining a painting class.

2) Accounting

Mindfulness makes us reflect on our own thinking, actions, and the current moment. Regular practice ensures we account for our own actions, choices, and decisions. You dwell upon your emotions and thoughts and its relation with others. Mindfulness makes you aware of the other person’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors as well. It changes the way you deal with people at work, and in your personal life by giving you a perspective to think and apply it in the situation. What does this mean for you? Your reactions are more thoughtful and less impulsive and based on sound reasoning. (Ever regretted the way you behaved in a particular situation? Mindfulness practice will change that.)

3) Body Talk

Our body communicates to us in various ways. We are rarely aware that our body needs to speak with us and we have to develop the ability to listen. What happens in the daily humdrum of life? We allow our emotions to overwhelm us and we choose to be crippled by negative emotions that can even translate to physical pain in various ways. Ever felt overwhelmed and cried without knowing the exact reason? The inner child or the somatic child is communicating with you to tell you something. Mindfulness brings awareness of the psychosomatic conditions that involve both the body and the mind. You tune in to this body talk and listen to what is suitable for you - the kind of diet you need to the things you need to choose.

4) Observe and Question

With mindfulness sessions, you start observing yourself and your actions. You begin to question yourself in many ways. Why am I doing what I do? Am I involved in something that fulfills me? Mindfulness practice gives you the power to pause and reflect on what needs to be done. You no longer live life on an auto-pilot mode, rather, you take the reins in your hands. This is useful for your career planning, relationships, personal growth, self-care, and more.

5) Listening to the Inner Voice

Ever felt you should have worked on a decision your inner voice guided you to? Well, most often, we do not listen to our inner voice as it is drowned in the noise of the critical voice. Your inner voice guides you, it’s this intuition that we have that nudges us to do the right thing. Over the years, we have become victims to the critical voice - one that commands what we should do based on our mistakes. It makes us look at ourselves and criticize us constantly. Mindfulness meditation eliminates this critical voice and makes you focus on what your inner voice is saying. Once you tune in to this voice, you make empowering decisions for life.

6) Transference

The term refers to the process when a person either consciously or unconsciously transfers the feelings or emotions felt towards one person or situation to another person or situation. There can be a positive transference or a negative one. If you tend to relate your negative experiences or a person in the past with the current situation or person, it falls under a negative experience. For e.g. you might distrust people because of your past experience. Mindfulness, however, makes you aware of this transference making you choose to resolve your past differences and develop a wider perspective towards life. You are self-aware and use the positive experiences in life. You no longer transfer these negative feelings that hinder your growth.

Looking to be a Mindfulness Practitioner®? Read program details

7) Acknowledging the Presence of Others

Mindfulness makes you aware of your transactions with others. Your behavior changes with regular mindfulness practice - you learn to observe and support each other for growth and this helps others feel accepted and secure as well. Now that you are comfortable with your own presence, you respect and display the right attitude while dealing with all. You radiate positivity making you a happier person at work, and home while attracting the right kind of people towards your persona.

8) Attach and Detach

A sound mindfulness practice makes you aware of the importance of attachment and detachment. We often get attached to material objects and remain detached from our surroundings and those who matter. You may have experienced intense emotions after a disagreement at work. You may even continue to mull over it and feel remorse when you think of your work colleagues. What happens here is you are detached from the learning of this situation and remained attached to the characters that played a role in this situation. We absorb the negativity and we do not pay attention to the learning. Mindfulness makes you aware of that experience, learn the lesson, and detach from the people and elements of that demotivating experience without draining your emotional energy.

9) Intimacy

Mindfulness sessions are beneficial to develop that closeness and familiarity with self while paying attention to the way you deal with your close relationships. With a higher awareness level, you learn to identify and differentiate between pseudo-intimacy and know what you really need. You are open to be vulnerable and choose the right people to share this openness with. You also develop the right attitude to make the other person comfortable. You no longer hang in a situation because you are afraid to let go.

10) Exercise and Diet Regime

Although the youth are getting extremely conscious of their exercise and diet routine, mindfulness adds more essence to it. You learn the importance of taking care of your body through working out in the gym, Yoga, etc. You become mindful towards what you eat, and how you exercise as well as pay attention to your mental strength. You do activities because you enjoy them making it less of a routine and more of mindfulness practice.

Regular mindfulness practice changes the way you think, act, react, and live your life. Mindfulness meditation makes you realize that what you seek is within you.

Are you wondering how to start practicing mindfulness? We understand meditation itself is a difficult task for some of you. Do check our Mindfulness Practitioner® App designed to make mindfulness easy, effective, and enjoyable for all.