Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Whenever you bring awareness to what you’re directly experiencing via your senses, or to your state of mind via your thoughts and emotions, you’re being mindful. And there’s growing research showing that when you train your brain to be mindful, you’re actually remodeling the physical structure of your brain.

How could simply tuning into your thoughts and feelings lead to so many positive outcomes throughout the body? Researchers believe the benefits of mindfulness are related to its ability to dial down the body’s response to stress. Chronic stress can impair the body’s immune system and make many other health problems worse. By lowering the stress response, mindfulness may have downstream effects throughout the body.

Stress reduction is often an effect of mindfulness practice, but the ultimate goal isn’t meant to be stress reduction. The goal of mindfulness is to wake up to the inner workings of our mental, emotional, and physical processes. As you spend time practicing mindfulness, you’ll probably find yourself feeling kinder, calmer, and more patient. These shifts in your experience are likely to generate changes in other parts of your life as well.

  • Mindfulness trains your body to thrive.
  • Mindfulness boosts creativity.
  • Mindfulness strengthens neural connections.

It can take a little while for mindfulness meditation to feel natural and to become a part of your regular routine. But with practice, you may discover a powerful tool for relieving stress and improving well-being.

Ready to give it a try? Learning mindfulness is easier than ever. LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program, offers several opportunities to practice mindfulness each month. Take advantage of these opportunities to flex and strengthen your mindfulness muscles.

Mindful Moment – Every Tuesday at 2 p.m., take a moment to relax, recharge, and re-center yourself with Mindful Moment, a group mindfulness program offered by LIVE FOR LIFE. During these quick, 15-minute sessions, you’ll learn and practice simple breathing and mindfulness techniques that can reduce stress, increase self-awareness, improve concentration, and promote overall well-being. Drop in and reframe your day with calm and clarity.

Mindful Movement – Every Thursday at 10 a.m., add some movement to your mindfulness practice with Mindful Movement. The 15-minute Zoom sessions will combine movement, breathwork, visualization and intention to create a moving meditation practice that enhances relaxation and improves well-being. Drop in for an enhanced mindfulness experience through a focus on mobilization.

 

References:
American Psychological Association (2019, October 30): Mindfulness Meditation
Mindful.org (2021): Getting Started with Mindfulness