What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is holding an awareness of our thoughts, feelings, sensations, and environment. It involves an acceptance of feelings towards these and anything, emphasizing that there is no correct way to feel, nor is there an incorrect way to feel. All we can do is be aware of ourselves and our interactions.
Is it helpful?
Yes! Mindfulness in everyday life has been shown to reduce overall stress levels. Take a busy day for instance. If you have practices, homework, errands, and about six other tasks to complete, you may have the desire to think about all of these things at once and focus on them all at once. This, however, will not only stress you out but it will hinder your efficiency in completing the tasks at hand. By using mindfulness, you can focus on one task at a time, with less of a chance of feeling overwhelmed.
Mindfulness resources:
- Mindfulness Solutions Downloads: An extensive list of free mindfulness meditation downloads
- Greater Good: Science of a Meaningful Life: An extensive resource regarding mindfulness, including videos, a questionnaire, and methods on developing mindfulness in everyday life.
What is mindful self-compassion?
Being aware in the present moment when we are experiencing moments of fear, confusion, inadequacy and other similar stressors, and responding to those feelings with kindness and understanding. You are being mindful of your emotions and thoughts, and letting yourself know that those emotions are okay. It can be learned by anyone, and is a healthy practice of evoking good will toward ourselves. This practice helps in letting self-instilled stressors go, and brings you kindly to focus on the present moments. Highly recommended for those that tend to lose self-focus to past and future possible stressors.
Mindful self-compassion resources:
This is a list of resources from the website Mindful Self-Compassion. You can try one of them, some of them, or all of them! They can be used individually, whenever you see fit.
- Compassionate Letter to Myself
- Forgiveness
- Labeling Emotions
- Mindfulness, Emotion, Body
- A Self-Compassion Break
- Self-Compassion in Daily Life
- Sense and Savor Walk
- Soften, Soothe, Allow
- Soothing Touch
Many of these also come with audio self-meditation downloads focused on self-compassion!
Sources: www.mindfulselfcompassion.org, greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness/definition