Mindfulness is one of the buzzwords of the century, and yet, it’s not an empty one. We’ve seen multiple studies correlating mindfulness with positivity, life satisfaction, and well being. Inspirational teachers and coaches like Thích Nhất Hạnh and Jay Shetty have shone a light on the power of mindfulness to cultivate positivity, hope, and purpose. I have been quietly impressed and guided by some of the ways mindfulness acts upon us in quiet and wonderful ways to build a positive mindset.
Mindfulness helps you be present for the little joys of life
As Pearl S. Buck noticed, “Many people lose the little joys in the hope for the big happiness.” But over the past few years, that’s been changing, and I think the turn towards mindfulness has something to do with this.
Today, we see a lot more concepts like microjoys and trends like “romanticizing your life”. We have started to appreciate the small things in life, especially during the pandemic, when we realised that many of the good things in life can’t be taken for granted. Doesn’t that mean we must appreciate what we have in front of us more often?
Mindfulness can help us with that. By being more present and in the moment, we get the opportunity to appreciate the small, simple, often short-lived things in life. I often remind myself to follow the wisdom of Thích Nhất Hạnh and “Smile, breathe and go slowly.”
Mindfulness reduces stress
In a world consumed by stress and burnout, I’d like to think that a little but of mindfulness can bring joy and relief to our lives.
I often feel much less stressed after a session of mindful breathwork, and apparently with good reason. Psychologists now believe that mindfulness helps reduce stress by influencing two types of stress pathways in the brain that impact attention and emotion regulation. With the help of mindfulness-based interventions like body scanning, breathwork, chanting, or bell meditation, or therapeutic interventions like MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) or MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), you might be in a better position to focus on the present, worry less, and react negatively to a stressful situation.
Mindfulness and curiosity helps you enjoy your life
I have been listening to Arthur C. Brooks, the host of the podcast How To Build A Happy Life, for a while now. One of his most interesting episodes was with the Harvard psychology professor Dr. Ellen Langer. They were discussing how curiosity is a necessary counterpart to mindfulness in the quest to live a happy life, and it got me hooked.
Listening to them, I realised something. We struggle because we have this notion that everything in life is stable and unchanging. When we practise mindfulness, and start paying close attention to the world around us and ourselves, we realise this isn’t so. That’s when we let our curiosity take over, start exploring things outside our usual frame of references and expectations, and start enjoying life.
What has your experience of mindfulness practice been like? Positive, peaceful or purposeful? Tell me more at <instagram handle>