The Benefits of Practicing Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness are big buzz words these days.

"Stress is like spice — in the right proportion it enhances the flavor of a dish. Too little produces a bland, dull meal; too much may choke you." -— Donald Tubesing

Meditation is, at its most basic level, a way to feel a deep peace in your own mind. This occurs when you allow your mind to become calm and quiet. By practicing meditation you can find a new form of clarity and emotional stability. Closing your eyes and sitting silently while noticing your breathing is an example of meditation. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can restore your calm and ease anxiety.

Mindfulness is the state of being aware of something. Used as a therapeutic technique, you can observe your thoughts and emotions, but let them pass without judgment. Paying attention to your physical sensations can be very helpful to assess your reaction to stressful and uncertain situations. Practicing mindfulness can really help with how you cope with everyday life or deal with tough times.

Both of these allow you to channel your thoughts and physical sensations in a way that helps your overall health. Here are some of the benefits of practicing meditation and mindfulness:

• Lower stress levels
• Gain a new perspective on stressful situations
• Increase self-awareness
• Reduce negative emotions and negative self-talk
• More focused attention span
• Reduce self-involvement (self-centeredness)

Another important practice to incorporate into your daily routine is focusing more on feeling gratitude. Showing gratitude can positively affect your physical health, psychological well-being, and your relationships with others. It's really true! People who show gratitude in their lives exercise more, feel less stress and report fewer health complaints. The feeling of gratitude is a relationship-strengthening emotion that requires us to see how we've been supported and affirmed by other people.

"If your teeth are clenched and your fists are clenched, your lifespan is probably clenched." -Adabella Radici

Questions To Ask Yourself:

Do you incorporate any of these into your daily routine already? If not, how might you make time to do so?

How do you show gratitude to people in your life? Do you have people who show you gratitude in return?

Maureen Carlomagno is the founder of Your Wellness Coach, which offers a variety of work/life balance services to the community. She teaches classes on managing stress, personal health lifestyle assessments, and work life balance seminars. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and participating in local wellness events. Carlomagno is excited to mentor the Howe and Hill Spotlight Families for the Fit Family Challenge.