Notice That
Mindfulness is one of those topics that is making a name for itself in popular media. Some think it can cure anything while others believe it's just made up science. But what actually is mindfulness? And should you use it? The best answer to those questions is my timeless favorite, it depends! In this post, I will write about my view on what mindfulness is, its pros and cons, and who it could be helpful for.
I’ll start by saying that I’m not an expert on mindfulness and I don’t pretend to be. However, it is something I utilize both personally and professionally. I believe that it can be incredibly beneficial (for some) and its benefits range widely depending on the person, their use of it, and the type of mindfulness that works for them.
Now, there are a lot of different views on what mindfulness is, ranging from it being a formal meditation practice to simply paying attention to your breathing during various moments throughout the day. Based on my understanding and experience of mindfulness, I would describe it as the art of being present. It’s about being present with your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and body sensations (rather than obsessively focusing on the past or future, as I sometimes do). Mindfulness brings about a separateness with each of these parts of your experience, creating an ability to be with whatever is happening in your body rather than in it. This distance is key to not only living in the moment, but also in releasing immediate judgement over the experience. It instead cultivates curiosity and acceptance about your personal experience. When we are in our experience, we often get easily overwhelmed and then flooded by emotions, thoughts, and body sensations, causing us to react immediately rather than reflect. Being with our experience allows us to still be fully immersed in whatever is going on (we aren’t avoiding anything we are experiencing), but also have the space to use our brain to think of what solution may be best for us. Because of this ability to separate from our experience, mindfulness can improve emotional intelligence and reactivity.
Even though I believe mindfulness is a fantastic resource and skill (and provides the above benefits), I also know that it is not right for everyone. Although it has been shown to be useful for many people, it’s important to check in with yourself, particularly paying attention to how comfortable you are being with the experience happening inside your body. For those who have experienced past trauma in particular, being present with body sensations and feelings may feel overwhelming and triggering. If that is the case, I encourage you to first talk with your therapist (if you are working with one) to begin processing the trauma before engaging in body work and mindfulness.
A couple things to keep in mind if you decide to start a mindfulness practice. First, you will fail. Hard. I remember beginning to use mindfulness and how much I struggled. I believe this happens for a few reasons. One is that if you’re anything like me, your thoughts run a thousand miles a minute, making it difficult to sit and focus on one thing, such as your breathing. If you brain starts to wander at any point throughout a mindfulness exercise, know that it is normal and the key is to gently bring yourself back to your breath once you notice you’ve strayed away. The second reason you will fail is that sometimes it is just plain annoying to listen to your own thoughts or feelings. So many of us are trying to get away from them that simply sitting with our experience instead is uncomfortable and sometimes even scary. The second thing to do if you start mindfulness is lower your expectations! Mindfulness, like I said, is an art and all great masterpieces take time. The practice may make you feel instantly better and relaxed or it may make you feel worse, but keep in mind that the goal is to learn to be at peace with whatever you are experiencing, regardless of good or bad. Use the time to connect with yourself and the world you are experiencing.
Interested in starting a mindfulness practice or finding more specific mindfulness resources? Make sure to check out my mindfulness page, which includes books, articles, videos, and practices you can use.
