Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life, and no one is truly stress free. However, how we look to events and circumstances we are faced with - affects how we feel and manage daily stress. Practicing mindfulness can benefit our health and well-being. Mindfulness help us being tuned in to what is happening in the present moment, without thinking about the past or dreaming about the things that we could be.
Mini Mindfulness Practice - In brief, find a comfortable place where you will not be interrupted and follow these steps:
Important: The posting below looks at ways to promote "deep reading". Also called slow reading, "deep reading" can be a crucial opportunity for mindfulness, which sharpens memory, improves mental performance, and reduce daily stress.
It takes courage to become who we really are. Every time we try to fit into a new group of friends, whether as a child of as an adult, we are denying of who we are. If we make it a habit, we risk becoming stresses and confused about who we really are. When we become mindful of who we are, we stop worrying about who we should be. We are able to see the world just the way it is - without judging it from our own perspective.
Everyone has a unique personality, skills and talents to offer the world around them. Often, we can't appreciate our uniqueness because we are so caught up in what we should have done or who we think we should be. When we accept ourselves as we already are, we no longer find stress in the life we already have. And, we will meet more people like us.
Comparisons rob us of precious time. We are far removed from the present moment, and we'll never be content with what we have when we compare ourselves to others. Often, we compare ourselves to who we want to become - to the people whose successes and talents we wish to emulate. This tendency is a habit that only steals joy from our lives. And, once we begin down that road, we never find an end - because our gifts, talents and successes are entirely unique to our purpose in life.
Being authentic is not about standing out or being different from others. Being authentic is to stop focusing on other peoples' lives and stop comparing to others, rather than following our path and improving our self-esteem, skills, and capabilities.
Do not mourn the past, nor should you worry about the future, says the Buddha. The only important moment is the present moment. How wisely we spend the irreplaceable moments of today, will allow us the freedom to shape our lives around our beliefs, priciples, and most important values.
Living in the present moment - also called mindfulness - is a state of intentional attention to the solutions instead of problems. People who live in the present tend to be problem-solvers. Living in the moment help us increase creativity and productivity.
Good things come to those who sweat. And, once we see results, exercise becomes a lifestyle, not a punishment. No matter how busy we are, mindfulness comes into play here. When we exercise too hard and we are mindful of the fatigue or pain during the workout, it is easy to let go. The same applies to everyday activities - when we find ourselves feeling stuck and anxious, it's time to exercise and let go of negative emotions and stress.
Regular exercise is a proven way to improve our lives by reducing stress and anxiety. Whether it's every day or three times a week, consistent exercise encourages our brain to regularly release endorphins which helps us feel calm and in control of our lives. This in turn, boosts mental concentration, memory and helps reduce the risk of mental diseases such Alzheimer's.
Being present is the only way to enjoy life to the fullest. By being mindful, we enjoy friends and family more, we enjoy more anything we're doing - cleaning dishes, reading a book, exercising, studying or working. Mindfulness can easily fit into our everyday activities. The more we integrate mindfulness into our routine, the greater the benefits we'll experience.
The aim of mindfulness is to achieve a state of focused relaxation by paying attention to our thoughts and feeling without judgement. Rooted in Buddhism, mindfulness increases our sense of appreciation and gratitude for our family and friends. Now being examined scientifically, mindfulness has been found to be a key element in stress reduction and overall happiness.
When we keep dwelling on the past we are squandering our present. Once we decide to let go of the past, we become drawn towards new goals, relationships, places, and opportunities that will lead us to an exciting new life. As we make room for the new, we shed the old in order to make room for the development new skills and opportunities.
Most of the time, we act based on our conditioned, habitual ways of thinking. All of our past experiences, our habitual ways of seeing, our beliefs and opinions shape what we see and how we feel most of the time. By focusing on the here and now, people who practice mindfulness are less likely to get caught up in false perceptions from past experiences.
Doing nothing at all is downtime, paid vacation to recharge our energy, and to forget the bothers of the workplace. Our lives have become defined by busyness. When we look around in cafes, at the bus stops, out on the street, people are glued to their mobile, computers or tables. The challenge is finding time to do nothing when we suffer from information overload.
Learning how to do nothing might be the most vital skill for happiness and prosperity. By giving our brains a break, encouraging contemplation and daydreaming, we can improve mental health and allow ideas to incubate. Setting aside weekly, even daily periods of relaxation may be the best thing we can do to nurture our minds with ideas to improve our lifestyle.
Every day, we all face stressful situations throughout our lives, ranging from minor annoyances like traffic jams to more serious worries, such as a loved one's illness. According to the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard University, 60 to 90% of all medical office visits in the United States are for stress related disorders. Studies have shown that stress can cause damage in different parts of the brain, affecting our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. No matter the cause, stress floods our bodies with hormones. And, as a result, our heart pounds, our breathing speeds up and our muscles tense.
There are lots of ways to relax. Some techniques are designed to relax the mind and some to relax the body. But because of the way the mind and body are connected, not only should we start our day feeling relaxed and refreshed but, to prevent stress, we should continue to relax and refresh during the day - find some inner peace and give our energy a boost.
NOTE: Send us your list of spelling mistakes at info@mastermoves.com (for your chance to win The Power of Relaxation audio).
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