Mindfulness is the powerful practice of being aware. It is maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment.
By practising mindfulness, our awareness tunes into what we are experiencing in the present moment rather than revisiting the past or imagining the future. Mindfulness involves acceptance of what is, we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them.
How Mindfulness works
Recent neuroscience research has demonstrated that contrary to popular belief, the neural connections of the brain are highly plastic (changeable), this is called Neuroplasticity. Even the most entrenched thought patterns can be changed. Developing a Mindfulness practice allows for the restructuring of these neural pathways.
Some of the Key elements of Mindfulness practice are:
- Understanding how the mind works, recognising thoughts as mental events and not necessarily facts.
- Intentionally becoming aware of our reactions and judgements which are often spontaneous and automatic. Allowing some space to emerge between mental events (thoughts/feelings) and our response to them.
- Becoming aware of mental patterns that trap us into thoughts & emotions creating stress and anxiety.
- Learning to develop skills like awareness, metacognition, breath and body awareness etc. to create new neural pathways for wellness.
Does Mindfulness clash with any religious sentiments and beliefs?
No, mindfulness is a way of life, just like fitness or yoga. The mindfulness practice is not about making you belong to any ideology or sect. It is neither a ‘spiritual’ nor a ‘religious’ practice. For example, one of the practices is to focus on our breath, something we do involuntarily. In mindfulness, we bring awareness to this act which anchors us in the moment.