According to the Mindfulness Academy, “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness is a quality that every human being already possesses, it’s not something you have to conjure up, you just have to learn how to access it.”
The term Meditation comes from the Latin word mediatum, which means 'to ponder’. It is a practice that helps us focus and declutter our minds from unnecessary thoughts. It also acts as a tool to reduce stress, helps us relax and improves overall mental and physical being through various techniques.
One ought to take care of their mental well-being in order to ensure their physical well-being. Today, there is so much emotional upheaval and extreme amounts of stress, so mental health must be prioritised.
Here are some ways in which meditation and mindfulness benefit us:
The Benefits Of Mindfulness -
• Regulating Emotions: Mindfulness practices can turnaround our current state of mind by distracting us from thoughts or situations that bother us. Several meditation exercises help us achieve a sense of calm, but mindfulness helps us respond to emotion in a healthier way.
• Reducing Stress: Through mindfulness techniques, one can experience a reduction in stress levels and relief from anxiety.
• Alleviating Rumination: Mindfulness helps us to break the cycle of negative thoughts and disengage from repetitive worrying, both of which contribute to mental health issues.
• Enhances Connections With Others: Mindfulness constantly encourages us to use wisdom as we act and react in front of others. It also helps us forge better connections with different people at various levels.
• Improves Focus: Through regular practice, you can focus on living in the present moment and all other distractions gradually fade away.
Benefits Of Meditation -
• Reduces Stress Levels: Meditation reduces stress and also alleviates the symptoms of stress-related conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and fibromyalgia.
• Sharpens Memory: With regular meditation, one experiences mental clarity and improved memory. These benefits also help with age-related memory loss and dementia in the longer run.
• Increases Attention Span: The regular practice of meditation improves your attention span.
• Enhances Willpower: Meditation also helps in building mental discipline, much required for doing away with habits that are detrimental to our well-being.
• Improved Sleep Quality: People who meditate diligently experience better sleep or sound sleep, an important factor for mental well-being.
• Lowered Blood Pressure: Meditation helps to relax blood vessels and improve overall cardiovascular health.
• Promotes Compassionate And Optimistic Behaviour: With regular meditation, one becomes more self-aware, develops positive thinking and demonstrates compassion while dealing with others.