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/)

Post Question:

What do you do to control the negative thoughts in your head?

Answer the post question here

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What's being said

  • WLKHS2217
    Posted at 17:03h, 28 February Reply

    To control the negative thoughts in my head I usually just do something gi love to get my mind off of it. If that does not work I will go on a run or just take a nap.

  • wlkhs2216
    Posted at 17:01h, 28 February Reply

    Personally in order to control negative thoughts, I try and find something to divert my focus to in order to take my mind off the negative idea.

  • wlkhs2203
    Posted at 17:00h, 28 February Reply

    To control the negative thoughts in my head, I often journal about them.I find this method helpful to me because instead of letting out my negative emotion towards someone else, I write them down instead reflecting on my feelings and emotions. This is a way I clear my head instead of meditating.

  • wlkhs2224
    Posted at 17:00h, 28 February Reply

    To control the negative thoughts I usually exercise to get my mind off of them. I also hang out with my family and friends because they can always make me feel better. My dogs are the most relaxing because they are always there for you. The best is spending alone time so you can understand how you are feeling and what you need to do in order to feel better.

  • wlkhs2216
    Posted at 16:59h, 28 February Reply

    Personally I try to take my mind off of negative thoughts or, depending on the situation, i can convert some of the energy into a focus and work through a negative idea.

  • WLKHS2105
    Posted at 15:04h, 28 February Reply

    *continued* I find the music and dog aspects of my post to be the most effective, because for the music if I find a song I know I like, I can just kinda vibe and just surround myself in the music, and focus on the lyrics or beat. As for going outside, I find it very helpful to just take in the fresh air and wake myself up.

  • WLKHS 2106
    Posted at 14:56h, 28 February Reply

    What I usually do to control negativity in my mind is just ignore it and move on. I’ve always been like that and it helps, but sometimes that negativity comes back or happens to be the truth and repeats.

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