Hello BASK friends!
As a mother of two highly spirited (aka strong-willed 🙂 ) children and a psychologist, I have happily learned that there is a better path to peace and emotional healing than what has been traditionally taught in the last 20 years. I like to know why things are recommended instead of just accepting them at face value and because it is a popular health trend. I see a lot of clients who tell me, "My doctor/friend/teacher/sister said that I should practice mindfulness." In nearly all cases, people do not know really understand why it is important and do not know how to start. Also, there is a preconceived notion that is too "new-agey". It doesn't have to be. Check out my simple steps at the end.
What is it and Why it is helpful?
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with kindness and curiosity and without judgment. It is a practice in observing and noticing. There is no "end-goal." Think of mindfulness like a pleasant day of snow skiing. The journey is more important than the destination.
Here is the deal, when people regularly practice mindfulness, their brains change. The frontal cortex (the brain region tasked with our problem-solving, emotional regulation, impulse control, planning, and more) grows in volume and our amygdala, which is responsible for the fight, flight, or freeze response, shrinks. Research shows that regular meditation led to increased gray-matter in the learning and memory brain structures (hippocampus), and those associated with self-awareness, compassion, and introspection. (1)
With our modern technology driven society, we are training ourselves and teaching our children to not pay attention and to instead "distract, numb, detach,etc." (2) When we get upset and are emotionally flooded, our pre-frontal cortex shuts down and our fight, flight or freeze response activates in our amygdala (our alarm brain). Cortisol (a stress hormone) levels rise and our bonding hormone, oxytocin, shuts off. This is why when we are having a disagreement with a loved one, we don't feel connected to them and may see them and then treat them as the "enemy." Too much time in fight, flight, or freeze leads to difficulties with thinking clearly and accessing reason. The insular cortex (deep in the brain) grows with regular practice and it helps with emotional control.(2)
Mindfulness is exercise for your brain. It develops emotional intelligence, improves mood and coping with painful emotions and anxiety, and strengthens focus and decision making. It works because it allows you to experience a "pause" between stimulus and response. Mindfulness helps with relationships, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, other addictions, stress, ADHD, and more.
Are you ready to get started? Click here for my Easy Tips to Get Started on a Mindfulness Practice
Thanks for reading. Please let me know if you have any questions. I hope you will join me back here next time.
With a grateful heart,
Kerry
Resources:
1) https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/01/eight-weeks-to-a-better-brain/
2) Willard, Christopher. (2016). Growing up Mindful:Essential Practices to Help Children,Teens and Families Find Balance, Calm and Resilience.
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