What is Mindfulness?
The idea behind a successful mindfulness practice is to become totally and completely present to each and every moment – to live in the present moment – not in the past or the future. Stress exerts an unrelenting pressure on our bodies when we slip into the past with our thoughts or skip into the future with our worries. If we fixate on rehashing past experiences that were traumatic or hurtful or unpleasant – we will insure that our body continues to release an onslaught of stress hormones. If we worry about what the future holds in store for us, we fixate on events that rarely ever happen.
When thoughts are centered in the past or future, the body is suspended in a continual state of stress. Cells are flushed with blasts of adrenaline throughout the day. This leaves little energy for the body to manufacture dopamine. Symptoms flourish under such conditions. They thrive on stress that is fueled by worry, fear, regret, guilt and anger.
Click on the link below to download the first in a series of 8 booklets that introduce mindfulness challenges.
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