"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking out new landscapes
but in having new eyes"
Marcel Proust
but in having new eyes"
Marcel Proust
Numerous psychological studies have shown that people who practice mindfulness regularly are more contented than average, have more positive emotions that are linked to a longer and healthier life and are less likely to show signs of stress. The simple practice of mindfulness, a form of meditation, is something that can be incorporated easily into daily life to bring about an instant change in perspective, which over time, and with practice, develops into a long-term deep sense of peace and wellbeing.
The benefits of mindfulness reach beyond the positive impact on mood, extending to improvements in memory, creativity, reaction times and stamina.
The practice of mindfulness offers an alternative to the mind’s usual way of working. For example, if you start to feel a little stressed then the mind’s natural inclination is to try to help you think your way out of feeling stressed, by trying to establish the cause and then find a solution. In the process you may become tangled up with past regrets or future worries, which add to the turmoil. It may not take long before the “inner critic” which lives inside us all, begins to tell you that you need to try harder. Suddenly your thoughts have spiralled out of hand and you are feeling more stressed than you were at the start!
Mindfulness helps you to see things differently. It is the practice of noticing and paying attention to your thoughts and feelings, as they arise, non-judgementally and with a sense of compassion. With practice you can learn to observe negative thoughts or feelings, understand that they are not real and gently let them go. When this occurs an extraordinary thing can happen: a profound sense of happiness and peace fills the void.
At besthopes, we firmly believe that fostering mindful practice, whether within individuals as part of one to one coaching, or more widely as part of our organisational interventions is the key to minimising interference to achieving individual personal or organisational goals. Our own consultants regularly practice mindfulness and seek to bring in their learning and experience of mindfulness techniques to benefit the wellbeing of all our clients.
The practice of mindfulness offers an alternative to the mind’s usual way of working. For example, if you start to feel a little stressed then the mind’s natural inclination is to try to help you think your way out of feeling stressed, by trying to establish the cause and then find a solution. In the process you may become tangled up with past regrets or future worries, which add to the turmoil. It may not take long before the “inner critic” which lives inside us all, begins to tell you that you need to try harder. Suddenly your thoughts have spiralled out of hand and you are feeling more stressed than you were at the start!
Mindfulness helps you to see things differently. It is the practice of noticing and paying attention to your thoughts and feelings, as they arise, non-judgementally and with a sense of compassion. With practice you can learn to observe negative thoughts or feelings, understand that they are not real and gently let them go. When this occurs an extraordinary thing can happen: a profound sense of happiness and peace fills the void.
At besthopes, we firmly believe that fostering mindful practice, whether within individuals as part of one to one coaching, or more widely as part of our organisational interventions is the key to minimising interference to achieving individual personal or organisational goals. Our own consultants regularly practice mindfulness and seek to bring in their learning and experience of mindfulness techniques to benefit the wellbeing of all our clients.
Try some free mindfulness practice here... |
"A man is but the product of his thoughts, what he thinks he becomes." Mahatma Gandhi