Train your Brain to Spiritually Advance
Mindful meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. It combines meditation with the practice of mindfulness, which can be defined as a mental state that involves being fully focused on “the now” so you can acknowledge and accept your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. Techniques can vary, but in general, mindful meditation involves deep breathing and awareness of body and mind. Practicing mindfulness meditation doesn’t require props or preparation (no need for candles, essential oils, or mantras, unless you enjoy them). To get started, all you need is a comfortable place to sit, three to five minutes of free time, and a judgment free mind-set.
Learning mindful meditation is straightforward enough to practice on your own, but a teacher can also help you get started, particularly if you’re practicing meditation for specific health reasons. Remember, meditation is a practice, so it’s never perfect. You are ready to begin now just as you are! Making mindful meditation a regular practice can lead to stronger effects, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to do it every day. Studies have found that meditating three to four times per week can have big benefits – and, regularly meditating for eight weeks will actually alter the brain, according to neuroimaging studies.
Mindfulness can be achieved through meditation, but one can also practice mindfulness through daily living. Focusing on the present moment and quieting your inner dialogue can help you attain mindfulness. As you practice mindful meditation, it helps to find ways to bring mindfulness into your everyday life, especially on those days when life is too busy to carve out a minute alone. Mindfulness meditation is one technique, but everyday activities and tasks provide plenty of opportunities for mindfulness practice. Getting started with a mindful meditation practice can sometimes seem intimidating, but it’s important to remember that even a few minutes each day can be beneficial. Just a few minutes of being present can reap significant benefits. Even if you don’t do it every day, it’s a practice you can keep coming back to when you need it. Learning to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life is not always easy. It may take some time and practice to learn to slow down and live in the moment.
Mindfulness has a long history of both religious and secular practice. It was first popularized by Eastern religions including Hinduism and Buddhism thousands of years ago before being introduced to the West. More recently, the practice of mindfulness has been combined with cognitive therapy in treatments aimed at reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. The practice continues to grow in popularity as research shows the many health benefits of mindfulness.