Life is too stressful nowadays as each one of us remains overloaded with tasks and try to adapt multi tasking to cope with it. It normal for a person to pay attention to multiple things simultaneously that puts too much stress on the mind. Times can become unmanageable and lead to frustration and despair says Jonah Engler. The hectic life that we lead today pulls us in numerous directions simultaneously that makes it extremely difficult to maintain poise and results in tremendous mental stress that affects our lives adversely. A typical scenario is when you fold clothes while keeping an eye on the television and the other eye on the kids. Similarly, as you listen to the radio, you continue planning your day while getting ready to commute to work and then plan your weekend. Taxing the mind with too many tasks simultaneous handling makes us sick mentally.
Jonah Engler says
The urge to accomplish too many tasks in a short time may make you lose on your connections with the present moment. And miss out on how we are feeling and what you are doing. One of the ways to control stress from hectic lifestyle is to practice mindfulness, who has benefited from it. Mindfulness is the art of practicing techniques that help us to regain control over the mind to enjoy life. You must practice consciously to focus your attention on the present moment and accepting life as it comes without being judgmental. Scientists are now investigating mindfulness as they have found it to be a key element in reducing stress and enhancing overall happiness.
Jonah Engler explains the benefits of mindfulness.
The meditation techniques followed by religions are at root of practicing mindfulness as it manifests in the form of prayers. This help to divert your thoughts away from usual preoccupations and focuses on a broader perspective on life. The cultivation of mindfulness is entrenched in Buddhism. It has become a part of mainstream medicine as evident from its practice in stress reduction clinics across the world. Mindfulness can improve physical as well as psychological symptoms as well as positive changes in attitudes, behaviors, and health.
Improved well-being
Mindfulness is flexible,Its regular practice increases the mental capacity, which contributes to a happy life by supporting many attitudes. Being mindful makes it easier to enjoy the pleasures in life as it comes, helps you stay occupied in activities that keep you engaged, and enables you to deal effectively with adverse events. The practice of mindfulness allows you to focus on the present and in the moment that you are living. Thereby it leaves no room to worry about uncertainties of future or regret over the past. You would be less concerned and preoccupied with self-esteem and success and able to connect with others more deeply.
Improves physical health
When your mind is in a state of calm, it filter out unwanted worries and anxieties and you enjoy life. This leads to a sense of well-being as you are comfortable in your zone by shedding unwanted thoughts, and it generates a sense of acceptance so that you can pay attention to your thoughts and feelings without ever being judgmental about what is wrong or right. Studies have shown that techniques of mindfulness help to improve physical health in many ways. Relieving stress is the greatest benefit of practicing mindfulness, which helps to lower blood pressure and improve the cardiovascular system, which helps to treat heart disease.
When the mind is relaxed and calm, it improves sleep, which is essential for good health.The body experiences less pain for those suffering from chronic pain. Also, gastrointestinal difficulties are under control.
Mental health improvement
Mindfulness increases positive emotions while eliminating negative emotions that lead to stress building and affects the body and mind adversely. Mindfulness teaches us to soothe the mind and enjoy living in the moment. This drives away unwanted stress and keeps you relaxed. The stress-relieving aspect of mindfulness is one of the biggest benefits as perceived by psychologists. They turn to mindfulness meditation as an essential element in the treatment of various issues of mental health from depression to substance abuse and going up to couple’s conflicts, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and anxiety disorders.
Practicing mindfulness – various techniques
There are many ways of practicing mindfulness, but all have the common goal of achieving a state of alert. Focused attention by getting accustomed to paying deliberate attention to thoughts as well as a sensation without any judgment. As the mind is free from baggage, you can pay undivided attention to the moment you are living in. Another thing common to all mindfulness techniques is that these are all a form of meditation that teaches mental concentration with a pin-pointed focus on yourself and your surroundings.
Basic meditation
– Sit quietly in a space where you can enjoy the silence and be with yourself. Keep breathing naturally, or repeat a word or chant a mantra with some rhythm but silently. The word or mantra acts like the flame of a candle on which you focus your attention while allowing your thoughts to twirl in your mind as it comes and goes without trying to be judgmental about it. All the while, the word or mantra becomes your guiding force that draws the mind towards it.
Body sensations
– Keep noticing subtle body sensations like tingling or an itch without judgment but let them pass by Jonah Engler. From head to toe, notice every part of your body in succession.
Sensory
Notice sounds, sights, tastes, smells, and touches and name each by you know it but let them go without judgment.
Emotions
Do the same with emotions by recognizing it but with judgment. Practice naming the emotions while staying relaxed – joy, anger, frustration. Accept the feelings that come your way and let them go.
Mindfulness meditation is the only way to learn the technique of focusing your attention systematically. Which generates a feeling of relaxation and well-being.