Benefits and Methods of Mindfulness
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes. Including you.” – Anne Lamott
We will encounter mental chaos on our alcohol-free journey, especially at the beginning. Mindfulness is a helpful tool to guide us through some of the more challenging climbs imposed on us by our own unhelpful thoughts.
As we earnestly attempt to sit with our thoughts, we begin to see them for what they are. Just thoughts. They may be loud and uncomfortable, but they can’t really do anything to us, and the more we develop our mindfulness practice, the less power they have.
Benefits
Is mindfulness a cure-all? No, but it is a vital part of a more extensive toolkit, and there are several studies on the benefits of a daily practice, such as:
Reduced stress
Better sleep
Improve relationships with yourself and others.
Improve health markers
Lower heart rate
Lower blood pressure
Boosted Immune system function
When I have the foundation of a daily mindfulness practice under me, I notice such a difference in how I encounter life’s circumstances. Instead of reacting, I respond.
A gap is created between my thoughts/feelings and my response to them. In that gap lies the awareness that allows for a positive change in my inner world.
As for tangible results, I have tested my blood pressure readings numerous times. After a twenty-minute meditation session, I have recorded anywhere from a 3 to 10-point drop in the ‘before’ reading numbers.
This stuff really works!
Method
Search YouTube and apps for something that resonates with you. Pick an amount of time you know you can easily commit to every day, like two minutes.
Give it a try for a couple of weeks or a month. Stay curious and open to what comes up. See what kind of effects it brings to your life.
When you first start a mindfulness practice, you will find that your mind is constantly thinking, wandering, worrying, fantasizing. That’s completely normal.
A method for focusing the mind is to use the breath as an anchor point. Focus attention on the air that moves through the nostrils. Feel the lungs expand on the inhale and contract on the exhale. Be the sensation that is the breath.
“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts.”
Count your breaths; in and out is one. Try to count to 10 breaths. When the mind inevitably wanders, and we lose count, simply return to the breath and start again. Do so without judgment toward the straying thoughts or to ourselves.
Aww…
Think of training your mind as you would train a puppy. You wouldn’t speak harshly to the puppy or mistreat it when its attention naturally strays. Instead, we would gently and lovingly bring the puppy back to the training at hand.
Remember, it is a practice. Like any new practice, it can seem difficult at first; however, the more you practice, the easier it will be to bring a calm, aware presence to your thoughts without judgment or reaction to them.
P.S.
Would you like coaching on how to make alcohol insignificant in your life?
I have a 6-week course designed to do just that. I am really excited about it and looking forward to you joining.
Take a break from alcohol for a while. Click here to find out all about it and whether it is right for you.
*Spoiler Alert* I believe it is!
