The Power of Mindfulness
Emerging research has shown incredible benefits of practicing mindfulness on a daily basis, particularly meditation. Mindfulness refers to the notion of being fully present in the moment without judgment of thoughts, feelings, or sensation. When the mind is focused on the present moment it cannot worry about the past or future, which usually contributes to stress, anxiety and depression.
Therefore the simple practice of being completely aware of the here-and-now will produce a sense of peace, freedom and calmness. Mindfulness is an acquired skill that takes time to practice. It is like rehabilitation of a muscle that has not been used for a long time or the notion of learning a new habit/skill (eg. riding a bike).
What is the power of mindfulness?
Western society is not used to moments of sitting still and being with themselves unless they have acquired a certain religious practice of prayer or have already learned meditation or other forms of mindfulness. The excuses are usually “I’m too busy” or “I can’t sit still,” which are probably statements most everyone can relate to.
But here’s the thing – if you are “too busy” or “cannot sit still” you probably need it more than anyone! It is impossible to be able to listen to your own guidance system and achieve abundant creativity if every moment is occupied by activities or thoughts. Not only is it extremely stressful but we can become very comfortable in this stress-induced “survival mode.”
According to American Psychological Association (Davis & Hayes, 2012), regular practice of mindfulness results in reduced rumination, which decreases stress and negative affect. According to American Mindfulness Research Association (AMRA, 2019), brief daily meditation “improves mood, anxiety in response to stress, and aspects of attention and memory.”
Benefits of mindfulness meditation
Other benefits of mindfulness meditation include less emotional reactivity, more cognitive flexibility, enhanced self-insight, and increases working memory, focus, relationship satisfaction, morality, intuition and fear modulation.
Studies also suggest an increase in immune function as a result of self-regulation practices and fostering mental wellbeing specific capacities such as calmness, clarity and concentration. Additionally, at least 8 weeks daily meditation practice is needed in order to see measurable effects, which suggests that “meditative effects are cumulative and only emerge with repeated practice over time” (AMRA, 2019).
This means that we cannot just meditate “once in a while” and hope we will be able to reap the benefits down the road. This is a commitment to your wellbeing and it will show results. The app Ajivar is a simple way of getting introduced to mindfulness as it puts you on an natural interactive journey with our AI.
After only a few interactions, Ajivar will learn about your needs and preferences and therefore know how to best guide you to learn about yourself. This includes different mindfulness techniques and reminders of taking care of your mind and body. Using Ajivar on a regular basis helps you become more resilient and effective in your performance, relationships, and life in general, which leads to overall success and happiness.
- Davis, D. & Hayes J. (2012). What are the benefits of mindfulness. Monitor on Psychology, 43, 7.
- American Mindfulness Research Association (AMRA). (2019). Primary care mindfulness program supports patient self care. https://goamra.org/primary-care-mindfulness-program-supports-patient-self-care/
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