Mindful Living: How It Can Reduce Your Stress Levels
Nowadays, it's pretty common to hear someone complaining about stress. After all, we keep running from one side to the other between work and family, regular errands, among so many other things. It's not much of a big surprise that more and more people are looking for the best way to decrease their stress levels.
So, when you start searching for the subject, you realize that one of the things that everyone keeps mentioning is mindfulness. But how can a mindful living help you reduce your stress levels?
According to many studies, mindfulness can actually help you not only decrease your stress levels as t can also help you build an interior strength. This will allow you to build your mind in a way that you won't be so affected by the numerous stressors in the future.
But What Is Mindfulness?
Simply put, mindfulness is a state of focusing on the present moment without making any preconceived judgments. There are many different mindfulness techniques that you can adopt. Some of the most known include meditation and yoga.
When you are looking for mindful living, you should focus on 4 key points:
#1: Awareness:
Awareness implies staying tuned to what is happening on the present and on all that surrounds you. The smells, the sounds, the sights.
#2: Focus:
Focus implies paying attention to the present moment, ignoring both the past and the future. After all, you can only control the present.
#3: Acceptance:
Acceptance implies embracing whatever you are thinking or feeling, without any judgments or changes.
#4: Observation:
Observation implies the acknowledgment of unpleasant feelings, thoughts, and sensations as only temporary. You should only observe them without judgment or reaction.
How Can Mindful Living Help You Reduce Your Stress Levels
- Becoming aware of your thoughts: When you have a problem and you only focus on it, you can't get a good perspective of the overall situation. You are only seeing the tree when you should be seeing the entire forest. When you are able to take a step back and look at the situation as an owl, you'll be automatically decreasing your stress levels.
- Don't immediately react to a situation: When you have a mindful living, and no matter the situation, you should pause before you react. This brief moment will allow you to respond in a better way, providing a better solution.
- When you adopt a mindful living, you will be more aware not only of your mind but of your body as well. The truth is that many people who practice mindfulness and incorporate it into their lifestyle, are usually able to detect the needs of their bodies. So, you may start noticing pain earlier and taking action earlier as well.
- By practicing mindful living, you will be more aware not only about what is happening with you but also to what is happening to others. You may be more aware of other’s emotions which is a great way to prevent conflicts.