Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.
The key to understanding mindfulness is ‘focusing on the present moment’.
This is a wonderful thing to do as so much stress is caused by worrying about the past and the future.
Many people come across mindfulness through the body scan meditation in which you you focus your attention on different parts of your body with your eyes closed. This is a great way to become relaxed and is definitely good for overcoming anxiety.
It needs some time (approx 3 – 30) minutes without distractions preferably in a quiet environment but will always be helpful.
The other part of mindfulness is more to do with having a mindful attitude. This is something you can do anytime, anyplace. You bring your awareness to the present moment and then accept your feelings, thoughts and sensations without attaching to them.
When your stress level is low this is much easier to do do.
It is great for easing stress and for preventing anxiety. However when you’re suffering from anxiety it is not easy to just calmly accept your feelings, thoughts and sensations because of their intensity.
Ordinary mindfulness, which is a gentle activity, is very often just not enough to overcome anxiety. You need to do something more.
You need mindfulness extra – a combination of mindfulness and cognitive therapy.