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  • Writer's pictureGayatree Dipchan

The Mindful Mind

Mindfulness is based on having purpose and intention. It is an actively conscious focus on what you are feeling and creating in the present moment. When we engage in a mindful existence we are not judging ourselves for anything in our past experiences, we are not interpreting what a situation means in our lives, we are experiencing the present, emotions and all.


The practice of mindfulness has origins in various Buddhist and Hindu traditions and cultures and has been synonymous with yoga, tai chi and qigong. What we have learnt about the practice of mindfulness comes down to a simple idea. When we practice being present in every moment, every interaction, every activity, we sub-consciously learn the art of self regulation in our emotions and mental responses to everyday situations. This fosters well-being and development clarity and calmness


Mindfulness and Self Regulation

There are a number of psychological conditions which are characterised by our inability to regulate our emotions, attention and our behavioural responses. Mindful practices and meditation can promote our cognitive awareness, decrease our brain's negative responses to stressful situations and boost our working memory.


In research, mindfulness has been found to create "non-elaborative, non judgemental awareness" of present moment experiences and can be developed through inventions such as meditations, body awareness practices, yoga and psycho-education.


With self regulation comes enhanced insight into one's external environment and interactions as well as increased intuition and an improved ability to respond to psychological distress.


Benefits of a mindful practice
  • It builds empathy

  • It helps you be more compassionate towards yourself

  • Decreases your stress and anxiety leading to lower chance of burnout

  • Informs your quality of life creating a better balance between your professional and personal life.

The practice of mindfulness has many benefits, however it is a conscious choice to engage in living in your present experiences. What I have learnt is that you don't necessarily need to join a yoga studio or learn meditation.


A simple walk in nature engages our natural responses to commune using all our senses - feel the air as it touches you, as it enters your body and you breathe it out. Acknowledge your body's movements as you walk. Hear the sound of your feet on the ground and the sounds further out and finally look around you, take in the space you're in :)


Have a look at this paper for more information on understanding mindfulness and how it helps in self regulation - Guendelman S, Medeiros S, Rampes H. Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation: Insights from Neurobiological, Psychological, and Clinical Studies. Front Psychol. 2017 Mar 6;8:220. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00220. PMID: 28321194; PMCID: PMC5337506.

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