03 Mar How does mindfulness help me?
Mindfulness is a way to stay focused in the present because too often our minds become cluttered with the distractions of modern life. Just like Harrison, many people may feel overwhelmed at times. Ask yourself: How much time do you spend thinking about the past? How much time do you spend worrying about the future? A lot? Well that’s totally normal!!! But we don’t want to forget about the present because the present matters too. We want to be able to enjoy and live fully in the present moment and this is what mindfulness helps us to do.
People who regularly practice mindfulness will tell you how much more in control of their lives and calm it makes them feel. But don’t just take their word for it. Scientific research shows that mindfulness makes people happier and healthier; it lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels, increases immune response, improves sleep and even enhances creativity. (source: https://mindfulnessinschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MiSP-Research-Summary-2012.pdf)
In fact for people suffering from depression, when mindfulness was combined with CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy – the best known counseling treatment for depression), the combination resulted in the same improvements that would have been seen from taking an antidepressant.
Not enough proof that mindfulness works? Well how about actual changes in your brain? MRI scans (Magnetic Resonating Images – like a super x-ray without the nasty side effects) show that meditating for a half hour daily can increase grey matter density (our brain cells) in an area essential for focus, memory and comprehension. Prior research showed monks (who have meditated for approximately 10,000 plus hours) had extraordinary growth and activity in this part of the brain.
But how exactly can mindfulness help you in your daily life? Mindfulness helps the average person to stay on task because it trains the brain to stay focused. Moreover, it helps the average person to be less controlled by his/her thoughts, which in turn causes a decrease in anxiety and stress.
In fact 163 studies show that mindfulness lowers anxiety levels. How? Largely by being able to stay focused on the present moment and to not be controlled by negative thoughts. Mindfulness teaches the brain that when a negative thought pops into your head, you don’t have to be overwhelmed by it. Instead, it becomes just another thought, one that you can choose to pay attention to, or one you can ignore. Settling the mind like this changes, for the better, the actual size of the brain area that promotes fear, anxiety and paranoia – the amygdala. Yes, you read that right – mindfulness helps shrink the area of your brain that promotes anxiety! (Source: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/what-does-mindfulness-meditation-do-to-your-brain/)
WLKHS2105
Posted at 14:56h, 28 FebruaryTo control the negative thoughts in my head I think of memories where I know not only I was happy, but there were people around me who were happy as well. I will also listen to music to distract myself from whatever it is I am thinking about. I find running outside with my dog or playing tug of war/fetch with her helpful, as it allows me to reorient myself and get both my and her energy out. I also just try to get back to whatever i’m working on,
WLKHS2101
Posted at 14:53h, 28 FebruaryWhat I do to control the negative thoughts in my head is figure out if it is about the past or about the future. If its about the past I remind me self I have more important things to focus on now and if its about the future I tell myself not to worry about it until it is necessary to.
WLKHS2119
Posted at 14:52h, 28 FebruaryTo control the negative thoughts in my head, I usually listen to music while laying down, it helps clear my head as all i listen to are the lyrics and barely think about anything else-unless it’s a sad song.
wlkhs2107
Posted at 14:47h, 28 FebruaryWhen I start to think negatively I tend to not have a mindful-like awareness but instead become controlled by the the negative thing going on. I never realized it but I what I do contrasts the example given earlier of focusing on what your doing to calm yourself.
WLKHS2116
Posted at 14:47h, 28 FebruaryIn order to control any negative thoughts in my head I try to focus on the more positive things that I currently have going on in my life. Although it doesn’t always work it sometimes just relieves some of the stress that I may have been feeling. Focusing on my strengths, or whatever it may be in the situation, just gives an overall more positive outlook. When something negative or stressful happens I also think to myself that in a few days it will be over and that I would’ve gotten through it without really looking back.
WLKHS2115
Posted at 14:46h, 28 FebruaryNormally when a negative thought pops in my head, I try to talk about it with whoever I am with at the moment because the majority of the time. I surround my self with people I trust so I don’t really have to worry about them “exposing” me. If I am alone I usually try to break down the situation or thought and try to take a more creative and positive approach to it.
WLKHS2110
Posted at 14:46h, 28 FebruaryWhen negative thoughts are in my head I try to not worry or think about them and try to think about something positive to get my mind of the negative thought I was having.