What is Mindfulness Meditation?
Mindfulness meditation allows us to “wake up” into our daily lives and remain aware of our surroundings and self, moment by moment, and without judgment.
Check in now as you read this. Can you feel any sensations in your body? What thoughts or emotions do you observe? Can you feel your breath? Are you hearing or smelling something? Bringing open, objective awareness to these observations and sensations is being mindful.
Living in the present, not worrying about the future or ruminating about the past, is being mindful.
Recognizing our physical and mental limits, taking care of ourselves and feeling compassion towards others, is being mindful.
Learn more about Mindfulness meditation
Regular mindfulness meditation practice:
Decreases
- stress and anxiety
- reactivity to upsetting moments with others or ourselves
- amount and intensity of conflict in relationships
- difficult or repetitive self-defeating behaviours
- blood pressure
Increases
- concentration and attention
- energy
- acceptance and contentment
- self-awareness
- self-compassion and compassion towards others
- quality of sleep
- immune functioning
- response to cancer treatments
- effectiveness of treatments for psoriasis
Changes
- our relationship with chronic pain so we can function more and feel less distressed
- the structures of our brains
. . . and may even lengthen our lives!