Is Mindfulness Helpful?

You might have heard the word mindfulness being thrown around. In some ways it seems like a bit of a buzzword, similar to self-care. What actually is mindfulness, though? Does it do anything? Is mindfulness helpful, or is it just another therapy word?

Mindfulness can be a beautiful addition to your daily routine. It’s one resource you can access quickly, once you’re a little bit practiced, and as you learn, you can begin to notice shifts in how it’s helpful. One of the things I appreciate the most about it is that it’s so countercultural. Meaning, mindfulness offers this often unfamiliar experience to slow down, notice the present, and truly be “in” the moment.

Something I will often share with clients struggling with anxiety specifically, is that it lives in the past and in the future. Can you notice that in yourself, if anxiety is a struggle familiar to you?

Anxiety lives in the past and the future, but not the present.

Enter the gift of practicing mindfulness. At the heart of this practice is noticing, non-judgementally. This means being aware of your thoughts, aware of your body, aware of your emotions and just noticing. This all happens in the present. And it feels safe, calm, and expansive.

Mindfulness cultivates a sense of safety because again, it is bringing and keeping you in the present moment. In these present moments, you can take deep breaths – down to your diaphragm. Notice when you do this, your tummy expands and contracts with those deep breaths. When you’re dysregulated, you will typically breathe up in your chest. This activates the sympathetic nervous system (your fight/flight/freeze system), which likely spins your anxiety or dysregulation to an increased level. Breathing more deeply, calmly and into your diaphragm activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is regulating and calming. I invite you to try this out for a moment.

Take a deep breath in, noticing your tummy pushing out as you do this. Release your breath. Try it again, this time focusing on what it feels like to breathe in that area. Can you notice a stretching feeling? What is that like? Now exhale, also noticing what it’s like to empty your diaphragm completely. I invite you into this mindful breathing practice for two minutes. (It sounds short but actually can take quite a bit of effort, as you become more used to it.)

Continue to notice.

Noticing is this neutral, non-judgemental experience. When you’re in a space where you can just notice, you allow yourself the opportunity to expand your perspective. You can be more curious. You don’t have to feel good or bad. You’re not critical of yourself. You just get to be in the moment.

There’s a gentleness that is experienced within mindfulness. It’s calming, soothing and it is healing. If you’re like many people, you might find that you are very good at being (self-) critical, but extending compassion to yourself is very rare and difficult. Showing compassion to others? No problem, but towards yourself? Not likely. I invite you to notice how the mindful breathing practice you just took yourself through, allowed you to drop your shoulders (perhaps) and be softer. Possibly, more present.

If you’re able to spend a couple of minutes daily, entering into a mindful practice like the one above you will begin to notice a shift. This shift will happen slowly but will be one which is healing. You might notice that softening turn to some self-compassion. This will feel welcoming (and unfamiliar!). Just notice that! You don’t have to form an opinion about it, you can just curiously notice.

And, the more you practice the more you’ll find becoming mindful can be part of your everyday. If mindfulness is something you’re curious about, I invite you to reach out. Clients often notice how much more regulated their nervous systems are, how they can be more present and engaged and where they find healing.