You Are Spending Half Your Life Lost In Thought.

Our minds are lost in thought 47% of the time according to a recent Harvard study.
The constant mind wandering is a direct cause of our unhappiness. This is tragic!
Especially when you can do something about it. Mindfulness is a scientifically proven approach to resolving this issue. 

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and surrounding environment. It encompasses acceptance, by paying attention to the present moment thoughts and feelings non-judgmentally.

The Buddhist practice for developing Mindfulness is called Vapasana, which means clear insight or seeing clearly in Poli the language of the Buddha.

My personal favorite definition is presence of heart, body, and mind.

Jon Kabat-Zinn helped mindfulness become mainstream through a mindfulness based stress reduction program (MBSR) that is taught throughout the globe. Even google hired Jon to spend time teaching mindfulness to its people.   

Why should you consider practicing Mindfulness?

Researchers have shown that practicing mindfulness, even for just a few weeks, can create physical, psychological, and social benefits.
 

• Mindfulness helps our bodies: After as little as eight weeks mindfulness meditation can boost the immune system and increase your ability to fight illness.  
• Mindfulness is medicine for our minds: Research findings suggest it increases positive emotions while reducing negative emotions and stress.
• Mindfulness fosters compassion:  According to the science, it makes us more likely to help someone in need because of our increased ability to empathize with others.  
• Mindfulness enriches relationships: According to several studies, mindfulness training makes couples more satisfied with their partner.  
• Mindfulness modifies our brain: Learning, emotion regulation, empathy, and memory all improve because of the increases in density of gray matter in corresponding brain regions when we practice mindfulness.  
• Mindfulness improves focus: Research suggests that mindfulness helps us limit distractions and improves our attention and concentration.

How can you cultivate Mindfulness?

Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind. This is an art and science. 

1. Pay close attention to your breathing, especially when you are experiencing strong emotions.
2. Notice consciously. Ask yourself in a given moment, what do I feel, see, hear, and smell?
3. See your thoughts and emotions for what they are. They are constantly shifting, impermanent, and most importantly they do not define you. 
4. Listen to your body and the physical sensations at your disposal no matter what you are doing.

As Jon Kabat-Zinn says, “It’s not really about sitting in the full lotus, pretending you’re a statue in a museum. It’s about living your life as if it really mattered, moment by moment by moment by moment.”

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