Science is forming stronger and stronger links between mindfulness and well-being. Mindfulness is the practice of focusing on the present moment with purpose but without judgment. While Buddhism is chiefly responsible for the cultivation of mindfulness, most religions promote some form of prayer or meditation that helps shift a person’s perspective from dwelling on negative thoughts to a greater appreciation of life in the present. The work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts brought “mindfulness meditation” into a more mainstream acceptance and shows how physical and psychological pain can be reduced and general health and wellness can be improved.
Remember the Five Habits of Happiness from my former blog-series? Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, Give. Here’s how the practice of mindfulness meditation works with each step to elevate your life’s happiness quotient.
People who are focused on the present recognize the value of forming deep Connections with others and feel joy from their bonds with family and friends. People who are mindful recognize the power of Connecting and cultivate healthy relationships—Step One.
People who are mindful are less shackled by the regrets of their past and the worries about the future. They can Be Active, becoming enthusiastically engaged in activities and experiencing the physical and psychological boosts from a brisk walk, a bike ride or twirling happily on a dance floor—Step Two. See the nice connections now?
Mindfulness meditation is the practice of Taking Notice. People who are mindful savor the pleasures of life as they occur and enjoy a purer experience at the sight of a rose trellis in full bloom, the smell of home-cooked food in a bright kitchen or the feel of the cool side of the pillow. Step Three.
People who are mindful Keep Learning. Like Connecting and Being Active, people who continue to be engaged in learning stay more vital and mentally fit. Staying curious about life and other cultures and the vast worlds within and around us requires a mental alertness that exercises “mindfulness muscles” continuously. That’s Step Four.
Finally, people who practice mindfulness are always watchful for opportunities to Give. They are conscious of how giving of their time and talents not only benefits others but comes back to them in rich blessings, too. Giving and receiving completes a critical cycle of life and builds resiliency, creating personal strength and the willingness to accept help from others with grace.
I aspire to elevate my own life by drawing more and more on the power of mindfulness. Seeing the way it fits so neatly into the Five Habits gives me ideas to pursue and a simple focus.
With Love and Light,
Doctor Mell
