Mindfulness E-Book

50MINUTES

• Herausgeber: 50Minutes.com
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Serie: Health & Wellbeing
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 28

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

Change is only 50 minutes away! Find out everything you need to know about mindfulness with this straightforward guide.

The tradition of mindfulness dates back centuries, but it is mired in misconceptions and misunderstandings. In reality, anyone can attain a state of mindfulness if they are prepared to work towards it, and in doing so they will unlock inner calm, a sense of perspective and greater emotional control. In this concise book, you will learn the basic techniques you need to get rid of intrusive, overwhelming thoughts and start living in the moment.

In just 50 minutes you will be able to:
• Understand what mindfulness is and how it can benefit you
• Master the meditation, relaxation and breathing techniques that will enable you to attain a state of mindfulness
• Start practising mindfulness every day and make it a regular part of your life

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Leseprobe

Mindfulness

Techniques for living in the moment

Problem: how can you use meditation or other techniques to achieve mindfulness?Aims: to learn to live in the moment and calm your thoughts thanks to a range of mindfulness techniques.FAQs:Is meditation absolutely necessary to achieve mindfulness?How much time should I dedicate to practising mindfulness?How can I use mindfulness to resolve conflicts?What are the benefits of mindfulness?What are the links between slow life and mindfulness?Do I have to be an expert in spirituality to meditate?What should I do when my thoughts get in the way of mindfulness?

“Mindfulness” refers to a form of meditation derived from the teachings of Gautama Buddha (spiritual leader of Nepalese origin, c. 5th century BCE) which is characterised by an awareness of our own thoughts, actions and motivations in the present moment. It is a simple practice which involves bringing our attention back to the present, observing and focusing on the sensations we experience. It is closely linked to Buddhism and meditation, although it is present in a wide range of religions and traditions. It is used in the West as a way of treating stress and depression.

According to Svea and Arist von Hehn, the authors of the 2015 book La Pleine Conscience. Apprendre à méditer au quotidien ! (“Mindfulness: Learn to Meditate Every Day!”), mental distraction is extremely common. Indeed, a 2010 Harvard University study revealed that our mind is wandering 50% of the time (Killingsworth and Gilbert, 2010).

This all means that we multitask, spend a lot of time thinking about the past and the future and struggle to live in the present. Unsurprisingly, our distractedness does not make us happy: the study also showed that a wandering mind leads to emotional fatigue.

The French psychiatrist Christophe André (born in 1956) defines mindfulness as “the attention we devote to our experience with no filter, no judgment and no expectations”1 (2010). We can all achieve this state if we let ourselves be guided and learn while practising it.

In 50 minutes, this guide will show you how you can attain this state of mindfulness, the benefits it can bring you, and how you can practise it on a daily basis.

1This quotation has been translated by 50Minutes.com.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness meditation

Mindfulness meditation involves focusing your attention on the present moment as often as possible, examining the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing and letting them wash over you without trying to control, judge or analyse them. It means halting the constant stream of thoughts which bombard us with self-criticism and judgment.

Whereas mindfulness is a mental state, mindfulness mediation is a technique to reach this state. The goal of mindfulness meditation is to switch off autopilot and start thinking about everything we are doing.

According to André, mindfulness mediation means “being fully aware of the moment and the feelings, thoughts and emotions that accompany it”. This technique “encourages a mental state which protects against stress and depression”1 (ibid.).