Mindfulness
Here is a word you may not have heard before. Mindfulness is the ability to
keep your thinking on one thing that you are experiencing. There are two
types of mindfulness; formal and informal.
Formal mindfulness can be like guided deep breathing where you focus
only on your breathing.
Formal mindfulness can be like guided deep breathing where you focus only on your breathing.
It is so useful, we are including an example you can try.
Sitting down put your feel flat on the floor and close your eyes.
From deep in the pit of the stomach breathe in for 7 seconds and then breathe out for
11 seconds. Do this 5, 6, 7 times and see the reaction. The reason for making the
out breath longer is that inhaling triggers one part of our nervous system that creates
arousal and exhaling stimulates a relaxation response. By breathing out more than
breathing in you trigger the relaxation response over the arousal response
Informal mindfulness is as you go through everyday events, pay attention to those little things.
Focus on the sweetness of a ripe strawberry or the warmth of the sun when you step out from the
shade. Stay with that experience and focus on it for that moment.
Positive rethinking
It is the interpretations of events that make things seem more stressful. Being able to see things
more accurately is the key to using your thinking to cope. Being aware of unhelpful thinking habits
and challenging negative thoughts are steps toward thinking more positively.
Focus on your strengths
Yes we all have weaknesses, but what are your strengths? Being able not only to acknowledge
your strengths, but appreciate them is important.
Putting these 8 ways to express positive emotions helps build your
inner strengths to cope with most stresses people can face.
Use them enough, they can form new neural pathways that
strengthens your wellbeing
The task now is to get a plan on how you are going to use them and
make them work for you.