The wholesome benefits of practicing Mindfulness

Photo by Alp Duran via Unsplash

How often do you pay attention to your surroundings and bodily sensations?

The majority of us find it difficult to stay in the ‘here and now, from racing thoughts to distractions, we simply struggle to stay present within our minds and within our bodies.

Mindfulness, coined by a Buddhist scholar named Rhys Davids, supports us to bring our awareness to the ‘here and now’ judgment-free. If you’re like me, maybe you find it difficult to relax and through mindfulness, you can reach a state of relaxation. Mindfulness can reduce stress levels, bring you out of ‘freeze’ mode which is one of the trauma responses and boost your immune system.

There has been a ton of research done on mindfulness and the effects it has on the brain. Mindfulness can increase the thickness in our cortex, an area in the brain that supports cognitive functions such as sensory processing and attention.

Mindfulness can support us with our emotional regulation and being less reactive to situations.

If you’re new to mindfulness, I would recommend finding a guided meditation app or video on youtube to get you going. I currently use a guided meditation video on Youtube crafted by a Youtuber named Jason Stephenson for 10 minutes a day. Mindfulness can be difficult to grasp at first, but it’s important to find dedicated time to the practice and reap the benefits. Headspace and Calm are also great apps that provide guided meditation.