What is really Mindfulness?

Ten years ago, my then 6-year-old, comic-loving son, painted a picture of me as a "supermum" with 4 arms. Two normal and two arms which I only "take out" if need to be. 

I was proud. Proud of my multitasking ability. My neighbor could not do that. I could listen to a conference call, cook lunch, and jump in at doing math all at the same time. I was a working mother. I was a super mom!

OMG! I had no Idea. I unconsciously hurt my brain completely.

And I did not even get it. At the time, we also had health training in the company where there was a stress test. My results were all-alarming. But I did not take it seriously because, in my opinion, it was great. I was multitasking, ambitious and proud. And so unconscious and so ignorant!

Stress comes just unconsciously. We do not even notice it.

Only consciously can we relax.

How? By practicing Mindfulness.

Being in the "here and now", with the focus on the present moment and without judging that moment. To focus on the present instead of the past or the future. To do one thing after another.

And treat ourselves by giving breaks! Creative breaks. Pauses are necessary for people. Pauses from the thoughts. Do not always take breaks "just" to be.

Mindfulness is the mental ability to focus on the conscious moment without evaluating it.

With this awareness, we improve or change the focus, increase our ability to perform, are ready to change or adapt the changes. The feelings of fear, worry or stress disappear. We feel different. Better. Fortunate. Successful. We perceive what we feel, think and do. We separate emotions and emotional reactions from feelings.

The world is in an incredibly fast pace today. We do not know what we do not know yet. Socrates wisdom is more relevant than ever. The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved with the levels of thought and the consciousness that actually caused them, Einstein once said.

A new kind of thinking is necessary if humanity wants to continue living.

Many people have no objection to the changes in the world, but few are willing to change themselves voluntarily! Leaving the comfort zone means pain. Scientifically proven, pain that arises in the head and heart. Everyone who once had the heart "broken" knows what I am talking about.

So the changes start in your head. With the consciousness. Only with the right attitude do we get ready to make the decision and afterwards, aware and willing to change themselves.

That's why we need mindfulness practice today.

Our thoughts today are "monkey mind". One thought jumps to the next, without focus, without pause and this is reflected in our lives, as well as in our work. We never feel like getting ready or feeling like we miss out on the flood of information and opportunities today.

We have forgotten this mental ability in the last decades. Being "Busy" was a kind of award.

Good news is that we can re-train this mental ability!

Scientists have detected brain changes after just eight weeks of mindfulness meditation training! When we are Mindful, our life gets more focus, more meaning, and our thoughts are meaningful together. We are able to see and act more clearly. Experience the stress differently and deal better with the emotions. In today's "work-life flow" or "new work" where work and private life flow together, this property has become very important!

Mindfulness practice in itself is easy. But at the same time relatively difficult to implement as a new conscious habit.

In order to implement this habit in one's own life, we must first make a decision and want it. After that we have to build up the knowledge and practice daily! It's the same as with physical training. Only having the knowledge will not do. We have to practice it regularly.

Mindfulness is no different than fitness for the brain!

Your brain is your strongest "muscle", it can be your friend or your biggest enemy. Why? Because your intellect is actually your thought. Your brain is constantly producing thoughts. Your thoughts cause your emotions and thus how you feel. And from the emotions we react or act. Mostly unconsciously.

It is so important to know that we can consciously change thoughts and thus also emotions!

Consciousness, in turn, is strengthened when we regularly allow our brains to pause our thoughts. When we practice mindfulness mediation. When we are mindful and aware of what we are doing, mindfulness practice will "kiss" your consciousness and you will learn to know yourself. And would start loving yourself as you are. You will strengthen your self-confidence and your strength.

Your passion, your perception, your curiosity, your energy, your ability to learn, your concentration, your focus and your courage will unfold.

And most importantly, besides your IQ, your Emotional Intelligence will increase.

And that's what each Homo Sapiens needs today, in the Digital Age, more than ever!

#be mindful