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1. The state of our inner environments influence how we perceive the world. Our inner environment is composed of our thoughts and feelings. Our thoughts are vital to consider when analyzing our mental health because they often reflect the manner in which we perceive and understand reality, consequently influencing the way we experience the world around us. In other words, there is an immense amount of importance in having a positive mindset because we create the realities that we live in
2. Some of the Benefits of Mindfulness Include:
+Attention Regulation - Becoming more aware of what is in control of our attention. Throughout our days, we tend to go on these mental trips, passively interacting with the people or the work we come across, and don’t realize it until we find ourselves at a new, unintended destination. This can happen when we’re jumping from thought to thought, giving each thought its turn to drive, regardless of whether or not it has earned that right.
+Body Awareness - We can sometimes find ourselves in these very rigid positions without really meaning to be. Being aware of our body will allow us to just periodically check-in on our current physical state, a quick body scan, and in response loosening or tightening up w.e needs to be.
+Emotion Regulation - similarly to attention regulation, emotion regulation is important in keeping us from hitching a ride from emotion to emotion without any hesitation
+Sense of Self - According to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology mindfulness, is associated with a more positive attitude towards ourselves and an increase in self-compassion as well as compassion towards others. Being able to detach ourselves and refrain from reacting to our thoughts and emotions can help us understand and appreciate ourselves a bit more. We can give ourselves more room to experience, grow, and change instead of feeling forever cursed to be who we always have been.
3. Traditional meditation - We sometimes get intimidated by meditation because we believe in order to be “successful” we must be able to completely shut off our thoughts. On contrary, the objective is allow our thoughts to just simply flow. When one crosses our path, we tip our hat to it, bid it good day and say goodbye to it instead of chasing it down the street! It can be easier to focus on music, a mantra or a prayer so that our thoughts don’t stray too far.
Daily Mindfulness - We can try to be mindful in almost any environment. For example, in his book "Own the Day, Own your Life Aubrey Marcus" suggests practicing mindfulness on your morning commute. You can take a moment to become hyper aware of your surroundings! You can notice the warmth of the sun as it hits your windshield, the texture of the steering wheel in your palms or the warmth of your body on the seat.
The saying “stop and smell the roses” is basically mindfulness in a nutshell. For some of us, though it’s definitely worth it might be hard to have to squeeze 15-30 mins of traditional meditation into our hectic schedules. However, we can definitely incorporate these small moments in our day to where we just acknowledge and appreciate the sensory information that our brain is relaying to us.
Christina & Bárbara
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