What is Mindfulness, and why should I care?
Mindfulness is a way to focus on your inner and outer self. To become aware of yourself in the moment by accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. It’s a way to slow down and exist in the moment and to pay attention to yourself.
Mindfulness is a great way to relax for anyone with a busy schedule, whether it’s work, deadlines, or family-related. It’s not just trauma survivors who need this. Anyone can benefit from mindfulness. The best thing is, it’s free! You can do it anywhere. (Well, almost).
Practicing mindfulness can be done through breathing exercises, meditation, and guided imagery. Anything that can get you to switch off for a few minutes and be YOU. Nothing else, just you. It’s a way of paying attention to everything that is you.
Take a beat and find a quiet space away from your computer and people. Choose to either sit or lie down, but make sure you are comfortable.
Start by closing your eyes and calming your mind. Try to focus on your breathing instead of that deadline next week or whatever is on your mind. Notice your face relaxing as you breathe. Try to relax your neck and shoulders if you can.
Think about this moment, right here, right now. Ask yourself gentle questions such as:
How are you feeling today?
Think about yourself without judgment:
Do you have any aches and pains in your body that bother you?
Accept your feelings as they are. Don’t try to problem-solve anything. Just stay in the moment.
Consider your physical sensations in this moment:
What can you feel, hear, touch, smell, taste?
Pay attention to your breathing as you go through this exercise.
If you have time, go through your body and feel every limb and extremity in turn by tensing them and then relaxing that body part.
Benefits of Using Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness regularly can help you reduce stress and anxiety. It can improve your mental health and well-being.
Mindfulness can enhance your ability to focus your attention on the present moment.
By practicing mindfulness, you learn to understand and manage your emotions better because you listen to your body.
Mindfulness can help you sleep better because it promotes relaxation and the calming of your mind.
Mindfulness can encourage and strengthen your understanding of your own thoughts, feelings, and behavior. You recognize how you feel much quicker if you practice mindfulness.
My name is Lizzy, and I’m a mom, teacher, author, and mental health blogger. I write for those who don’t always feel that they have a voice. For more about me, my books, and articles, check out my website: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com
Support my writing, and buy me a coffee. I love a Cappuccino with chocolate sprinkles (Yes, because I deserve them.)
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For more about me: https://www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com
Elizabeth Woods grew up in a world of brutal sex offenders, murderers, and inconceivably neglectful adults. She suffered sexual abuse throughout her childhood and witnessed unspeakable events. Elizabeth survived in an environment where most people would not. She is now able to help other survivors heal from trauma through her writing and blogs. Elizabeth is passionate about spreading awareness of what it is like to survive after trauma. There is always hope.
Elizabeth is the author of several books and has written her memoir, telling her childhood story: The Sex-Offender’s Daughter: A True Story of Survival Against All Odds, available on Amazon Kindle and paperback.
Elizabeth is also the author of “Living with Complex PTSD” and the Cedar’s Port Fiction series: “Saving Joshua”, “Protecting Sarah”, “Guarding Noah” and “Bringing Back Faith” available here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCBZQN7L/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=7e223b5b-1a29-45f0-ad9d-e9c8fdb59e9c&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=931f96e2-c220-4765-acc8-cc99bb95e8bd
