Mindfulness

Mindfulness has its foundations in Buddhist philosophy, mindfulness, which has existed for more than 2,600 years, is rooted in meditation practices created by Gautama Buddha. Mindfulness is to be aware of what is happening in and around you in the moment you live.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a technique you can learn which involves making a special effort to notice what's happening in the present moment (in your mind, body and surroundings) – without judging anything. Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing. It's about allowing ourselves to see the present moment clearly. When we do that, it can positively change the way we see ourselves and our lives.  It is the state of opening your perceptions enough to understand the thoughts that pass through the mind, what the body feels, in short, what is happening, and staying with them without judgment. For mindfulness, we can call it a natural talent that has existed in humans from time immemorial. However, with the different habits and behaviours we have acquired over time, this ability of human beings has gradually weakened. As our mindfulness feature develops, the clarity of the mind increases and our experiences and goals become clear. Our conscious awareness develops. Thus, we get the chance to realize our purpose in life, the behaviours that will transform us. These moments sometimes cause us to catch a beauty and peace that we do not notice, and sometimes to manage the difficulties and stressful moments in our lives better. The way we think can affect how we feel and act. The theory behind mindfulness is that by using various techniques to bring your attention to the present (usually focusing on your body and your breathing) and create space between you and your thoughts, so you can react more calmly. Mindful meditation can be done anywhere. Meditation can be started by following the breath while sitting on the bus, subway or on the mat, standing or lying down. Every time the mind flies, goes elsewhere, when a thought comes, the breath is gently followed again. Long-term studies indicate that an average of 10 minutes of mindful meditation routine a day affects the quality of life of the person and when regular meditation is practiced, the number of grey cells in the brain increases.

It aims to help you:

• become more self-aware
• feel calmer and less stressed
• feel more able to choose how to respond to your thoughts and feelings
• cope with difficult or unhelpful thoughts
• be kinder towards yourself.