Mindfulness is a term that gets thrown around a lot at the moment and is often hailed as some kind of ‘solve all’ for every kind of problem under the sun. Mindfulness is part self-help technique, part clinical tool, and has lately grown to spawn countless e-books, courses, and evening classes. But what precisely is it and how do you define it?
Mindfulness: An Explanation
Boiled down to its essence, mindfulness is the observation of one’s own thoughts and emotions. In other words, it means stepping back and then simply being aware of what you’re feeling, what you’re thinking and what you are experiencing. This can then in turn be used to help treat a wide range of different psychological problems and to generally improve your psychological health.
The reason for this is that it brings more attention to the way that we handle various events and to how our thoughts and emotions normally control us. Instead of us controlling them! Mindfulness is mind training! Once we become aware of our thoughts and emotions we can begin to This then in turn anticipate them, to deal with them, and ultimately to prevent the negative aspects of them.
For instance, someone who deals with social anxiety will likely have a number of ruminations that contribute to their symptoms. These might include worries that they will ‘make a fool of themselves’, that they will be laughed at, that they will stammer…
Many of these thoughts are likely to be inaccurate but it is only by being aware of them that it’s possible to manipulate them, to rise above them, or to suppress them entirely.
Uses of Mindfulness
When used to combat such conditions as social anxiety, mindfulness can be seen as a clinical tool. Specifically, it is an important part of ‘CBT’ or ‘Cognitive Behavioral Therapy’. This is a psychotherapeutic approach that involves the practice of essentially replacing and reprogramming underlying thoughts, beliefs, and ruminations.
At the same time though, mindfulness has also long been a part of other meditative practices. Here, the goal can often be somewhat different. In this case, the objective is to be more aware of the present moment in terms of the sensations, the sounds, and the emotions. By practicing this, they can eventually become more ‘present’ in the moment and better able to react to what’s going on around them without judgment and without the constant ‘brain chatter that so many of us experience.
Mindfulness is a broad tool be used in a number of different ways. In almost every scenario though, the true end goal is to be aware of the present moment and to find an inner calm that often eludes us.
Sit by a lake or a fountain. Listen to the pulse of the water flow. I say do this 3–0 minutes a day for 21 days. YOU will feel a difference in life by taking this regular time out.
Oil choice for this week’s blog? Arise™ Oil Blend
*Challenges and discouragement are not uncommon as you strive to accomplish goals and realize dreams. With daily practice of affirmations and uplifting yoga poses and joyful aromas, you can move past these obstacles*
! by Doterra. Learn More my.doterra.com/rustie
Good work today!!!!
Until next time………..
**Sign up for my youtube channel alerts and don’t forget to schedule a time to chat with me.***
Feel free to sign up for my blog posts too! https://medium.com/@rustiemacdonald
***************************************************************
If you are interested in Donating to my podcast
or Write to me as I would love to hear from you:
Living & Thriving with Rustie
2828 S Mccall Rd
32–4
Englewood, FL 34224
Rustie MacDonald
Rustie shares her personal journey through severe poverty, rape, abuse, & homelessness in a light-hearted way. Her radio Show: blogtalkradio.com/rustie
