HOW TO REDUCE STRESS USING MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Without proper self-care, even the most well-adjusted person can suffer from mental stress, believe me, I have had my share of it. It affects not just the ability to think and process information, but can have major effects on your body. Many people dealing with mental stress, claim to experience a general malaise, a fatigue which crushes ambition and hinders their ability to handle the minor stresses of life. Mindfulness-based therapy can be helpful to those who feel overwhelmed by stress while adding a low risk self assessment.

Over the years of testing and trying different modalities, I’ve rated meditation as one of the best mindfulness-based therapy strategies. Meditation varies in application--from spiritual meditation to mantra recitation--but each type can be extremely helpful to those who practice it.

My favorite daily practice is Kundalini Yoga Meditations and Techniques.

Two Simple Keys to Practicing Mindfulness Through Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is deliberate introspection, letting your thoughts flow freely through your head. In order to get in this headspace you need to apply two simple keys below when performing mindfulness meditation:

1 :: Pay Attention on Purpose

The first of these steps involves deliberately listening to your thoughts. Hundreds of thoughts flow through your mind every hour, most given no consideration. They jet through your mind, swirling into your mental perception, and winking out of existence almost as quickly.

However, if you take time to dissect the thoughts that are already flowing through your mind, you can analyze the impulses driving your thoughts that are hiding just below the surface. Like a computer programmer analyzing the code of a website to diagnose any issues, when you practice mindfulness meditation you leave your mind open for introspection--knowing and understanding unconscious feelings that prompt thoughts.

2 :: Pay Attention in the Present

Anyone who has struggled with depression can tell you that the thoughts of past failures creep into the present and pollute every thought. This can cause those suffering with depression to become numb to their immediate experiences, which leads to a recurring circle of pain. The best way to break recurring painful thoughts is to focus on the present moment.--specifically, the direct experiences of your five senses. For example, approach your thoughts with an open mind- focus on uncommon sounds that fill your ears--gentle gusts of wind against your window or the house creaks as it settles--then steady your breathing to a rhythmic pace, and spot little things that you never noticed before. Mindfulness meditation involves getting rid of all the nonsense in your mind to become hyper aware of yourself in your surroundings.

Anyone dealing with depression or stress in their life can adopt the practices of mindfulness meditation to learn more about themselves. Try taking ten minutes out of the day to just focus on your own self-care. You will quickly notice a world of difference in every area of your life.