Mindfulness is a type of non-religious meditation that has been shown to help people who are in difficult situations or who face adversity. It can teach you to experience emotions without judgement or anxiety. Positive changes in the brain that help with resilience can be observed after about 2 months of mindfulness practice.1
Mindfulness is commonly used in the management of mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, as well as to improve stress in people with medical conditions such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, hypertension and insomnia.
At the very core of mindfulness are 3 steps:
- Sit comfortably and focus on 1 thing (such as your breathing)
- Notice or acknowledge when your mind wanders
- Let the thought pass and bring yourself back to the point of focus (such as your breathing)
Mindfulness can be learned on your own through books, apps, YouTube videos and other resources, or it can be taught to you by a mental health professional (such as a psychologist) or through a wellbeing service such as a yoga or meditation class.
Why not try this 10-minute preventative stress breathwork practice, which is designed to help reduce stress, create calmness and enhance sleep.
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Reference:
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Resilience: Addressing the challenges of MS. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support/Library-Education-Programs/Resilience-Addressing-The-Challenges-Of-MS (date of last update 2023).