The importance of mindfulness in the 21st century can’t be overstated, especially when it comes to increasing quality of life and physical health. Today, mindfulness has become an integral part of all modern workplaces. It’s even one of the more popular “try and get a job” exercise in our current economy, with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and founder of billion-dollar multi-billion dollar company, Elon Musk, being just two of the many chief executives who have made mindfulness a part of their practice.
But just how are mindfulness practices supported by science?
Benefits of Mindfulness
While research on mindfulness is vast and rigorous and continues to evolve, there are many theories and stories behind the benefits of daily mindfulness practice. Yet, there is one specific factor that appears to be the most deeply rooted.
According to some researchers, mindfulness practices support your ability to receive information from others. It should be noted that mindfulness instruction focuses on avoiding unhealthy thinking, the kind that is led by impulse and is fueled by difficulty with self-regulating.
There are several treatments for anxiety in the past that have been cited for addressing this.
The particular treatment, called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), was developed by psychiatrists Albert Ellis and Erich Fromm, a group of therapists who studied guided imagery, meditation, and the ability to regulate emotions.
A major benefit of CBT seems to be that it replicates the ability to accept different thoughts and feelings.
First Steps in Mindfulness
Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mindfulness, the different modalities based on established research all offer a number of benefits.
Meditation: A combination of deep concentration and a focus on sensations, sounds, sights, and relationships can be used to boost the capacity for attention and focus. Research suggests a combination of practice and daily meditation is key to optimal results. Certain modalities, like Kundalini Yoga, use inhales and exhales as specific points of focus and include “zen techniques” to improve attention and focus. Yoga Focused Practice: A meditation with a different focus than the “observation, concentration, and stress reduction” of CBT. The specific focus for “Yoga Focused Practice” can be accessed through the practice of a foundation sequence and guided imagery. understanding change