How Does a Mindfulness Practice Translate into Wise Self Care?

Mindfulness helps us to be aware of each moment of our lives more fully, and how to ‘be with’ our experience in the present moment with an attitude of friendly interest and acceptance.
The capacity to be fully present in each moment with a gentle, non-judging attitude is the key to living a happier, more peaceful life.

Tight deadlines, constant emails, busy days and little down time all increase the probability of experiencing life as stressful. Without awareness, we are more likely to react unhelpfully instead of responding adaptively to work pressures. How do we become more aware of these thoughts, emotions and body sensations that lead us into ways of being that only make matters worse?
 
Mindfulness helps us to be aware of each moment of our lives more fully, and how to ‘be with’ our experience in the present moment with an attitude of friendly interest and acceptance.

Mindfulness is also a practice: paying attention deliberately moment to moment to whatever arises with a friendly curiosity – including an awareness of the distractions that pull us away from being present.
 
This practice can be a formal one where we sit in silent meditation on a regular basis. Or an informal one, where we carefully pay attention to the routine activities of each day – for example, washing the dishes with full attention, feeling the water and soap on our skin, seeing the shine of the water on clean plates, hearing the sounds of the water sluicing over the dishes…
 
And, over time, being more mindful is an outcome of these kinds of practices – feeling a greater sense of spaciousness and calm day to day (with practice!). And then sometimes getting caught in old patterns of reactivity and stress again but now knowing that there is no point in judging ourselves about this. We can just start again in this new moment, in this  new breath and renew our commitment to living mindfully all over again….and again…and again.

Establishing a regular mindfulness practice can help us be more present in a helpful way to those we work and live with too. Intentionally cultivating a friendly, mindful acceptance of moment to moment experience opens up some space for us to be gentler, calmer and wiser in our interactions at work and at home.​​
 
Cultivating mindful presence, equanimity and self compassion in the face of the many and complex issues faced each day allows the possibility of greater clarity, effectiveness and kindness in any setting, whether it be the workplace or at home.

However this is easier said than done and so the structure of a course, the support of a teacher, and the fellowship of other participants are all invaluable in establishing and maintaining a regular mindfulness meditation practice, and exploring what it is like to live mindfully.

Systematic reviews have consistently demonstrated that mindfulness-based approaches improve wellbeing and reduce stress, burnout, anxiety and depression in healthcare professionals (Lomas et al, 2018; Fendel et al, 2021). There is also evidence that when health professional practice mindfulness, there are beneficial effects not just for them, but for the patients under their care (Grepmair et al, 2007). 

                       No mud, no lotus……..

                                         ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

---