What is Mindfulness? How Practicing Being Present Is Beneficial
Being present sounds great, but sometimes if feels pretty difficult to practice that philosophy.
It may seem as if everything and everyone is demanding your attention at the same time. It may feel like there’s no letup or time to take a break. These are actually the moments when mindfulness can be the most helpful.
Mindfulness is not about distancing yourself from what is in front of you. Rather, it’s about being able to stay in the present, face the challenges, and still feel capable while doing so. Mindfulness can help you overcome feelings of overwhelm and anxiety so that you can maintain a healthy state of mind.
Here are some ways in which mindfulness is beneficial to our mental and physical health.
Not Getting Overwhelmed
As mentioned above, feeling overwhelmed is a problem these days. Between work, family obligations, and everything else that’s happening in the world, there is a lot going on and sometimes it’s tough to handle. So, how can being present help with this? Consider these two ways.
Mindfulness helps you accept that, in this specific moment, you are feeling overwhelmed.
Not only can mindfulness offer a clearer understanding of the present moment, it can give you permission to experience, understand, and accept that mindset. Too often we focus on avoiding negative feelings, very often though the key to coping with them successfully is accepting them as they occur. So, if you are feeling overwhelmed, you can say to yourself something like “I’m feeling overwhelmed and it’s going to be OK!”
Using coping tools such as breathing exercises and other techniques to become more centered.
This allows you to refocus back on the situation at hand, and to be a force for change. That’s opposed to letting the situation take over and you are then out of control.
Finding Joy with Being Present
Another way that mindfulness and being present is beneficial is that you can find joy in the here-and-now. When we are not present, it’s like our minds are on auto-pilot. You just don’t notice what’s happening around you. There may be logical reasons for this. For example:
You worry about the future, such as getting a project done or paying a bill.
The kids are requiring your constant attention.
Something from your past keeps popping up and is always in the background.
When this occurs we can miss out on little moments that could bring us joy. Yes, the kids are loud and being sporadic and it may feel like it’s impossible to do anything. But then, because you are more present, you notice them do something that brings a smile to your face. Maybe they laugh or do something goofy.
Practicing mindfulness and being more mindful in our daily lives can help us recognize these “small” moments. It’s these moments that often bring the most joy and meaning into our lives.
Feeling in Control
Finally, mindfulness enables us to feel more in control, especially of ourselves. Too often we allow conditions to dictate to us how we should or should not feel. That can be disempowering because it gives control away to other emotions, people, and/or events as they unfold.
Keep in mind, you can’t control other people or, a lot of the time, what is happening around you. Thinking and feeling as if we must maintain control over everything can lead to an unhealthy mindset that often leads to more friction and tension. It is important to remember that you have the power over how you respond to situations. This allows you to look at problems objectively versus emotionally, and, essentially, to make better decisions.
By utilizing mindfulness practices such as deep breathing, visualization exercises, and other techniques you can work towards becoming more present regardless of the situation. If you are experiencing anxiety related symptoms and/or would like to speak with a trained professional, consider reaching out today to discuss how anxiety treatment can help you.
“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.”