Mindfulness as an Antidote to Stress

Mindfulness is a term that’s gaining in popularity due to its effectiveness in helping us to turn down our stress and anxiety. The concept entered the mainstream in 1979 through the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn who based his system on Zen Buddhism meditation techniques. In just eight weeks, people could experience a boost to their immune system, enjoy better sleep, more positive emotions, feel more relaxed whilst reducing fear, doubt, stress and anxiety.

The system is incredibly simple.?We change the pattern of our breathing and change our perception. Slower, gentle, deeper breathing enables us to notice more closely what we’re experiencing. We become aware of the sights and sounds and smells that we usually ignore. We can observe the flow of our thoughts and feelings without reacting, without judging, without following them, enjoying a deeply calming sense of detachment. Even the darker thoughts that sometimes spring up unexpectedly in our minds do not disturb us. We let the thoughts and feelings flow and observe them dispassionately from a distance. We are no longer trapped in the illusion that our identity is somehow expressed through our thoughts and feelings. Because we can learn that we are much more than whatever we think and feel.

When we use mindfulness to enhance our awareness, we experience a shift in our perception. Even the deeply-engrained habits of stress are no longer a part of us. This is a very effective way to master our old, unhelpful habits and behaviours. This is a marvelous tool for helping all of us to free ourselves from the dark dungeon of our fears, anxieties and stress.?

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