Mindfulness Meditation: Into the Lens of the Present Experience
Mindfulness meditation is a simple and naturally accessible practice that allows people to become aware of the present moment. Essentially, mindfulness is like a self-navigation tool that everyone is capable of, and can look as ordinary as taking a second to notice one’s own breath or footsteps. Mindfulness meditation does not have to be complicated. In fact, most practices only require the individual to follow these few basic steps: notice the environment, allow thoughts to come and go, return to the surrounding, and cultivate self-compassion.
Amidst the chaos of life, mindfulness meditation can be a calming anchor through which people can find inner solace from the storm of difficult emotions. Whether people want to cool themselves down, cultivate peace, or simply feel in the moment, the practice of mindfulness meditation can enhance one’s ability to achieve these states.
Amidst the chaos of life, mindfulness meditation can be a calming anchor through which people can find inner solace from the storm of difficult emotions. Whether people want to cool themselves down, cultivate peace, or simply feel in the moment, the practice of mindfulness meditation can enhance one’s ability to achieve these states.
Meditation does not have to happen in the quiet of a room. Try taking this mind-calming activity elsewhere, such as a beach, to find the optimal location for meditation.
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An easy way to get started is by doing a simple breathing mindfulness meditation. To do so, first, sit comfortably and relax the muscles. Next, pay attention to the feeling of breathing, which may include the coolness and warmth during the inhale and the exhale. By this point, it is very common to experience wandering thoughts, which is perfectly normal. When this happens, simply notice these thoughts and shift the focus by increasing the awareness of the breath. For some people, the wandering mind may be frustrating at first. However, once it is understood to be a normal part of the practice, people become more and more accepting of it. As long as attention is re-shifted back into the present moment, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to meditate.
In 2018, researchers from the International Association of Applied Psychology conducted a study which examined the influence of mindfulness meditation on arousal level and variability of emotions. The research included 115 participants, among whom were 64% female and 36% male. The participants were asked to practice mindfulness meditation daily for one week, as well as provide a daily diary of the emotions they experienced. The results of the study showed that those who practiced more mindfulness meditation experienced more peace and calm in their lives, and in some people, more physical ease before falling asleep.
Emotions are plentiful throughout the natural joys and pains of life, and mindfulness meditation is an effective way to avoid getting entangled with them. Over time, mindfulness meditation promotes equanimity, which is the state of emotional composure in the midst of mentally taxing events. Everyone can observe emotions with curiosity, accept their presence, and simply let them run their course.
In 2018, researchers from the International Association of Applied Psychology conducted a study which examined the influence of mindfulness meditation on arousal level and variability of emotions. The research included 115 participants, among whom were 64% female and 36% male. The participants were asked to practice mindfulness meditation daily for one week, as well as provide a daily diary of the emotions they experienced. The results of the study showed that those who practiced more mindfulness meditation experienced more peace and calm in their lives, and in some people, more physical ease before falling asleep.
Emotions are plentiful throughout the natural joys and pains of life, and mindfulness meditation is an effective way to avoid getting entangled with them. Over time, mindfulness meditation promotes equanimity, which is the state of emotional composure in the midst of mentally taxing events. Everyone can observe emotions with curiosity, accept their presence, and simply let them run their course.
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