Mindfulness is simply paying attention to what is happening right now without judgement and without wanting it to be different. It is a gentle way of opening our minds to a greater awareness, to a truer, deeper understanding of our self and our world.  Living in the present moment is beneficial because the past has already gone and can’t be changed, and the future is yet to arrive and is completely unknown and will be determined by what we do now. The only thing you can take control of is the moment you have right now.

Through regular mindful practices, we can develop a deeper level of acceptance of life as it is, and acceptance of ourselves as we are. Mindfulness helps us to sit with discomfort and become more resilient - to be able to cope with or recover quickly from difficult conditions. Mindfulness doesn’t mean that we “just let it go”. How can we let our pain go? How can we let our grief go? How can we let our resentment go? Instead mindfulness practice suggests that there are ways to learn to “let it be” no matter what it is. We can befriend our experience, no matter how painful, with curiosity and non judgement. Consider Mindful coaching from Sakura Well Being.

 

Some of the Benefits of Mindfulness

• Helps to Improve sleep

• Increases ability to cope with pain and loss

• Boosts immune system

• Helps decrease depression and prevent relapse

• Lessens anxiety

• Reduces compulsive behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, shopping, gambling etc)

• Increases life satisfaction

• Increases acceptance of yourself

• Aids with dealing with anger

• Increases energy levels

• Increases self confidence

• Improves brain function (eg. memory, empathy, creativity)

• Increases attention, compassion and self compassion

• Lifts mood

In the workplace it can help you

• Feel more empowered

• Overcome procrastination

• Cope better with shyness

• Show more kindness and patience

• Increase your resilience

• Achieve more focus and attention

• Enhance creativity

• Increase concentration

Relationships

• Develop more acceptance of others

• Befriend yourself

• Forgive more readily

• Really listen and care for others

• Can accept what is and what can’t be changed

• Can let go of unhelpful arguments or demands

• Have better awareness of a problem