Helping to cultivate emotional balance, self‑compassion, and inner wisdom
Helping to cultivate emotional balance, self‑compassion, and inner wisdom
Mystic Port, Hamilton. Photograph by Jennifer Squires Productions
Mindfulness is a moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness, cultivated by paying attention in a specific way, that is, in the present moment, and as non-reactively, as non-judgmentally, and as openheartedly as possible.
~Jon Kabat-Zinn
Why Mindfulness?
- Reduced Stress
- Less Anxiety
- Less Depression
- Increased Emotion Regulation
- Increased Focus/Attention
- Increased Working Memory
- More Cognitive Flexibility
- Improved Physical Health*
*Note: Although the majority of individuals who practice mindfulness meditation report benefits, it may not be suitable for all, and in rare instances, negative effects have been reported.
Try Meditation for Free at Hamilton Library — See All Events
The Power Of Being Present
Have you ever been in the middle of doing something you love, or spending time with someone you care about, and suddenly realized you’re not really there? Maybe you’re caught up in worrying about something that happened earlier, or busy planning how you’ll get to the next thing on your to-do list.
The Challenge of Automatic Pilot
In the busyness and stress of our everyday lives, it’s easy to default to automatic pilot mode. On automatic pilot, our minds may habitually deprive us from experiencing everyday moments of joy. Or we simply find ourselves going through the motions instead of really engaging with the challenges of the day.
Rumination is among the most unhelpful habits related to automatic pilot‒that is, repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings. Rumination about the past can lead us to depressive thinking while ruminating about the future can lead to anxiety. In either case, we can easily fall into rabbit‒or “habit holes” when we aren’t aware that these patterns are active within us. Anxiety and depression, when left unchecked, can also impact the physical body leading to negative health outcomes.
Cultivating Awareness of Body, Mind and Surroundings
The practice of mindfulness cultivates our ability to be consciously aware of what’s really happening in each moment in the mind, body, and in whatever surrounds us, whether unpleasant, neutral, or pleasurable. Mindfulness training can help us get out of automatic pilot by teaching us how to notice small shifts in ourselves‒feelings or sensations in the body, thoughts, emotions, or dips in our mood. This practice helps support development of emotional balance, self-compassion, and allows us to tap into our inner wisdom to deal effectively with our everyday challenges.
“Being There” For Ourselves and Others
With regular practice, we can cultivate our ability to choose what we pay attention to. When we practice mindfulness with curiosity, non-judgment, and an open heart, we can respond better to our own challenges. Learning to be present in the here and now helps us to steer clear of negative “habit holes” and reconnect with all experience including the joys of everyday life. Perhaps most importantly, mindfulness helps us to truly “be there” for those we care about.
How to Practice Mindfulness
There are many different ways to develop mindfulness skills. You can practice mindfulness on the yoga mat, or while walking, eating, and engaging in other everyday activities. Sitting meditation is another proven practice to develop mindfulness skills.
We welcome you to learn more about “The What, Why, and How of Mindfulness” in this insightful chapter by Carla LaBella, Professor of Psychology at Mohawk College, and author of The Wow Book: Ways of Optimizing Well-being.
