The only way to succeed in a world where anything seems possible is to be yourself. To be true to oneself and let the world know about the unique skills, interests, and goals that make you who you are. All too often, in an effort to please others, we stifle our unique gifts and talents instead of proudly displaying them. In making decisions about our careers, romantic relationships, and families, we frequently put our heads down and ignore our feelings. Consequently, we end up stressed out and dissatisfied since we’re living a life we didn’t consciously choose.
When we learn to ignore the noise of our societal indoctrination and tune into the guidance our hearts offer, we can find the clarity, inspiration, and fulfillment we’ve been seeking.
Practicing Mindfulness
You may experience feeling alive in an instant, since the reality is, you can discover mindfulness in all everyday moments of your day. Pay close attention to the sounds you can hear right now, take a moment to pause and take in the tones and vibrations, and allow yourself to accept them as they are.
Now, focus on your bodily sensations and assess how you really feel. Feel your soreness; see where your body makes contact with the chair and the floor. Place one hand on your tummy, and catch the motions in your body while you breathe. Examine the lengths in your breath whilst intentionally making these deeper.
These minute rituals can help you learn to appreciate the here and now. You’re letting these sounds in, rather than deliberately blocking them out along with your hectic mental activity.
These simple strategies may be implemented anywhere you find yourself with a spare few minutes, be it on your commute, over lunch, or while you’re at your work. Anytime you need to return home to yourself and feel alive, absorb what is going on around you, and evaluate how you feel.
Meditation
If you want to live a more enlightened existence, meditating for even just 10 minutes a day is a good idea.
When you meditate, you open up a direct line of contact with the universe, which in turn improves your mental clarity, willpower, and general mood. Meditation does not require complete silence, however it can aid when initially starting out. You’re free to remain seated.
All you have to do to get started with your mindfulness practice is close your eyes. Pay attention to your surroundings, bring your concentration within, and concentrate on your breathing as a means of relaxation. If you find your thoughts drifting, try counting your breaths from 1 to 10. There’s nothing wrong with letting your thoughts stray as long as you’re aware of when they do and can bring them back to your breathing. The point is to be aware of these ideas but not to give them any more attention than they deserve.
Not everyone will feel comfortable with this method of meditation, but if you stick with it, you’ll eventually discover one that does. You may try going to a meditation class or listening to some calming Sanskrit or mantra music. By quieting the mind and repeating sacred words, you can find a direct line to the divine.
Gratitude
Egos make it very simple to disregard positive parts of our lives. In our pursuit of bliss, we often overlook or take for granted the many blessings already in our midst.
Covetousness satisfies the ravenous ego. The ego tricks us into thinking we need more money, more experiences, and more things, yet giving in to these desires is the surest way to never feel satisfied.
When you are making an effort to live a more conscious life, it is important to remember that there is nothing wrong with treating yourself or others to good things, but that you should also remember to be grateful.
Take some time every day, either in the morning or the evening, to reflect on what you have to be thankful for and to put your thoughts on paper. You’ll quickly see that life is full with wonderful people, experiences, and things for which to be thankful. When good things happen to you, you will make an effort to verbalize your appreciation.
These habits may seem inconsequential at first, yet they may have a profound impact on one’s life if adopted on a regular basis. You’ll have a renewed sense of vitality and direction in life.
Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation Supported by Science
Anyone who consistently engages in mindfulness meditation is likely to say that it has improved their mental and emotional health. However, it is always helpful to have empirical proof to corroborate the anecdotal claims that practicing mindfulness enhances one’s level of awareness and capacity for learning.
The practice of mindfulness meditation has been linked to several positive outcomes, some of which are listed below.
- Mindfulness training has positive effects on cognition, quality of life, and well-being for people with moderate cognitive impairment (MCI). People with MCI who meditate had less memory loss and less depression symptoms than those who don’t meditate.
- Mindfulness meditation helped people with ADHD better manage their emotions.
- Kids with ADHD who practiced mindfulness meditation showed considerable improvement across the board on tests of their executive functioning (including self-control, working memory, and task-switching).
- Improvements in motor abilities have been shown in studies on the effects of mindfulness meditation on Parkinson’s disease, which may be attributable to the practice’s stress-reducing properties.
- Evidence from studies of long-term meditators compares favorably with that of non-meditators in terms of cognitive flexibility and attention span.
- Consistency in practice is key to reaping the many benefits of mindfulness. However, studies demonstrate that even a few minutes of mindfulness practice can boost cognitive performance, including memory and attention, and decrease tiredness and stress.
Takeaway
Mindfulness meditation is a non-invasive means of reducing mental stress and boosting cognitive function. When you meditate, your brain rewires itself in a way that improves processing and communication across regions essential for cognitive functioning.
This non-invasive method has been shown to be effective in alleviating and even curing a wide variety of mental health issues. Furthermore, regular practice can increase emotions of well-being and relaxation, leading to a more serene state of mind and body.