What is mindfulness anyway? There are many definitions but, to me, it means being in the present moment.
Sounds simple enough right? In fact, as children we were masters at it. We easily got absorbed in what we were doing and were so content with the ‘now’ that we had no desire to think about anything else.
Unfortunately, as we get older, that care-free nature gets covered up with memories of the past and worries about the future.
In fact, as adults, we typically spend most of our time thinking about the past or future and very little time grounded in the present.
Most of us aren’t even aware that we’re doing it because it has become such an ingrained way of being that it feels normal.
We spend a lot of time doing things that will either numb the pain of the past or get us to some future point in time when things are better.
And although we do these things in the present moment, our attention is not on the present moment. It is either on the past or the future so we never actually experience all that the present moment has to offer – peace, calm, contentment and all the health benefits that result from this state of mind.
With stress being the number one cause of disease, it only makes sense to do everything we can to manage our stress. And the research is clear, cultivating a mindfulness practice is a very effective way to do that.
Here are just a few of the many approaches to mindfulness:
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- Conscious breathing
- Guided meditation
- Focused attention
- Sound meditation
- Body awareness
- Mindful movement
These and other mindfulness techniques are also effective in reducing hot flashes and many of the other symptoms of menopause and perimenopause such as irritability, depression, anxiety, poor concentration and sleeplessness.
I have experienced, firsthand, many of these benefits which is why I incorporate the practice of mindfulness into my coaching programs as an essential element of healing and transformation.
But it’s called a’ practice’ for a reason. As with anything you want to get good at, the more you practice, the more skilled you will become and the greater the benefits you will experience.
Do you need help incorporating stress-reducing practices into your life?
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