If you are living a modern lifestyle
then being stressed and constantly under pressure is not a “big deal”. It’s also as healthy as taking a walk
or an evening run through smog filled neighborhood. It’s neither good for your body nor mind and those two are what you
should equally take good care of. As an old saying goes A
sound mind in a sound body, you cannot keep a healthy body without a strong
mind. Those two have to come in sync.
Today I’d like to introduce you, dear
reader, to the mindfulness state. What is it? Well, have you ever wondered what
is this voice you are hearing in your head? For example, right now as you read
through this text? Do you know where is it coming from? Are you aware of
it? Is it “you” or maybe someone or something else?
Mindfulness is all about being aware. Being in the moment. Aware. Of the
surroundings, thoughts, feelings, yourself. A little experiment to conduct:
next time you are angry at something don’t say “Ohhh I’m so angry!”, instead say “I am experiencing angriness” and observe it. Try it. Any
difference?
According to Emma Seppälä at huffingtonpost.com, Being mindful can help in achieving a more peaceful state, sharpen your senses and improve cognitive functions. The research on mindfulness suggests that meditation sharpens skills like attention, memory, and emotional intelligence. There are many benefits.
 |
| source |
Mindfulness can be achieved and cultivated through meditation but not only. There are many various techniques and approaches. It all comes to being mindful either way. To be aware. To notice thoughts, experience, to observe “thyself”.
Few facts: (0)
A National Health Interview Survey revealed that some 20
million U.S. adults meditate for
their health. (1)
Corporations like Google,
General Mills, Target, Apple, Nike, Procter & Gamble and AOL offer
structured meditation programs for executives and encourage employees at all levels to do it. (2)
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and
Derek Jeter are some of the more famous athletes who include meditation as a
tool in their professional arsenal. (3)
Sounds
like some mumble-jumble?
Meditation
started to being used worldwide at schools, teaching children to practice meditation
calms them down, improves their learning rate and overall results. It is more
and more used at workplaces, for example:
 |
| Police department meditating before taking their shift. (Canada) - source |
Did you know “of all the health benefits of
meditation, stress
reduction is
probably the most widely known and readily accepted by both mainstream medicine and the general public?”(5)
Over-stress is a killer, it puts you at greater risk for every major disease you hope you never
get including cancer, heart disease, depression, Alzheimer’s, and even premature death. (6, 7).
I encourage everyone to try it, research it. Give it a shot.
Have you ever heard about mindfulness and
practice of meditation?
Have you ever tried it or maybe you are a
regular practitioner?
What do you think about modern lifestyle? Do
you flow with it or rather drown in it?
How often on a daily basis do you have a moment
to take a break, stop for a moment and clear your mind?
Sources:
6.
http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/features/10-fixable-stress-related-health-problems
overall
sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-seppala-phd/how-meditation-benefits-ceos_b_9074248.html (Emma Seppälä)
Comments
In my opinion this kind of lifestyle is just a new trend and it'll pass after some time.
I'm trying to find a moment everyday to take a rest and relax after whole day.
The truth is that I'm very busy for the whole time and for the whole time there is something on my mind and I'm not too focused on my daily basis - I've got rutine, and if I manage to do all of it I'm calm, but if there will be anything different I'll be stressed for the whole day.
Now I know that I really should try it!
In the morning try to meditate/be mindful for a minute.
The next day try it for two minutes.
Next three minutes, next four and so on untill you feel comfortable with with time spent on it. Little steps over time.
Meditation is nice, as it can help to limit stress and stay calm, but I wouldn't say that it's the only way to help yourself, or that it's the only "true" way. Everybody has something he/she enjoys doing, in my case it's playing video games - it's more like a matter of finding activity you like, and making it your daily routine, even if only for an hour.
Also once, twice a week there is a shooting range. It's quiet when you're wearing ears protection and you're just there yourself with your mind and your gun - it's my meditation :)
Yes I have. I am really interested in this topic. I have read many books about meditation and practically, I do meditation everyday.
2) Have you ever tried it or maybe you are a regular practitioner?
I became a regular practitioner after my first try.
3) What do you think about modern lifestyle? Do you flow with it or rather drown in it?
I like modern lifestyle, but I always find a moment to take a break and clear my mind. Meditiation is really fun!
4) How often on a daily basis do you have a moment to take a break, stop for a moment and clear your mind?
Like I said before, I always find a moment for this. It helps me to get my daily tasks done, because meditation keeps me focused.
I'm trying to flow with a modern lifestyle but for the moment I'm rather drowning. I'm still trying to figure out how to work, study, learn at home and still have the time to rest. But resting for me is not sitting on 9GAG for 2 hours, it's wasting time, not resting. I'm still trying to find my best way to rest.
2) I've never tried it but it seems very interesting so maybe I'll try it.
3) I'm rather going forward with modern lifestyle but I like to slow down sometimes.
4) I think it's 3-4 times per day but it depends on intensity of day.