Mindfulness is not just a buzzword, it is a way of life that has been practiced by Indian sages since the times of the yore. Today this word is popular again in the youth’s parlance for many reasons. From bettering productivity at work to being able to steer through personal relationships better, mindfulness is the new and well-accepted key to unlocking one’s best life. While we all endeavor to find peace and happiness, most of us give up the search as soon as we stumble upon words like meditation, yoga, exercise, etc. 

Mindfulness however is not synonymous with meditation. It is a meditative way of living in which one is fully present in the moment – alive and conscious of the surroundings in a non-judgmental way. This simple exercise has myriad benefits for the mind, body, and soul. In this blog, we will take you through the 7 key benefits of practicing mindfulness and the right way of doing so.

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Mindful literally means being aware in the moment – being mindful about the feelings and the surroundings – in a manner that doesn’t necessarily interpret them as good or bad. Imagine just being able to observe the movement of air beneath your nostrils and the rattle of a child’s toy – discreetly and without being amused or annoyed with it. 

This exercise has many benefits for the brain – it makes you alert and more objective in general. It eliminates the unnecessary doubt, resentment, and other feelings that we harbor a lot of time for no reason. Direct impact? Increased productivity, emotional well being and overall success and happiness in life. 

Let’s now look in detail at the 7 key benefits of practicing mindfulness:

1. Better self-control and equanimity

Mindfulness promotes self-control and equanimity. By being mindful you learn how to be still irrespective of the turbulence in the surroundings. There is an innate requirement to be still in the face of distractions and temptations. With practice, it results in better self-control and having an equal mind in the face of adversities also. 

2. More kindness and compassion

Being mindful allows you to silently observe the surroundings which ultimately expands your perspective. When you observe the world from a place of no judgment, you automatically become kinder towards the world. By being neutral, you have more space to let feelings of compassion take their place in your heart. 

3. Improved concentration and productivity at work

A direct benefit of practicing mindfulness is better concentration and hence better productivity at work. When you train your mind to be calm and composed, you can concentrate better on the task at hand. It also increases your capacity to observe the minutest of details with clarity. All of this eventually compounds to better productivity at work. 

4. Better decision making

Being neutral and having an objective eye for detail leads to better decision-making. When you are mindful you are likely to observe the situation at hand with more objectivity. 

Not letting judgment cloud your ultimate decision automatically leads to better choices and decisions both professionally and personally. 

5. Reduction in bodily discomforts and promotion of autonomic healing

Mindfulness meditations lead to a slowed down and deeper breathing. When practiced over and over again, it triggers our bodies’ autonomic response system in a good way. When you are quiet and listening to your breath or observing each heartbeat, you automatically become more connected with your body and can direct healing to those parts that are in discomfort or are ailing. 

Research has shown that practicing mindfulness actually reduces gray matter in the amygdala, which is the part of the brain associated with stress, anxiety, and emotional processing. 

6. Mitigation of anxiety and depression 

This is essentially an amalgamation of what we have discussed above. When you tune in with your inner self, your consciousness expands and you become aware of your inner feelings. These inner feelings are often manifested into resentment, depression, anxiety, and mood swings when not addressed. By being mindful, you open up to the possibility of understanding the core reasons for these feelings, thereby placing more focus on solutions rather than problems. 

 

Sometimes even being able to acknowledge these hidden feelings can do a lot to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The Western culture is now much more open to adopting ancient Indian and Asian practices around meditation. This is because those who have tried practicing mindfulness meditations have reaped huge benefits with respect to anxiety and stress – something very common in today’s hectic lifestyle.

7. Promotes emotional resilience in the face of unpleasant situations 

Mindfulness meditations are highly beneficial for both emotional healing and also emotional resilience. Emotional resilience refers to one’s ability to adapt to stressful situations or crises. More resilient people are able to “roll with the punches” and adapt to adversity without lasting difficulties; less resilient people have a harder time with stress and life changes, both major and minor. Mindfulness is a way to unlock this emotional resilience in oneself. By being mindful, you are more patient with both the external world and your inner self. As a result, you are better prepared to handle your emotions even in the face of adversity. Mindfulness after all is nothing but being able to observe the situation from a distance without being attached to it or judging it. 

The Roaring Forte is a highly interactive coaching institution started in 2021 by Col. Deovrat Pagay. The institution was started with a vision to shine more light on the various psychological aspects that are often overlooked. 

Col Deovrat Pagay is a retired Indian Armed forces officer whose biggest endeavor has been to help people struggling with self-doubt, lack of emotional intelligence, and social connectedness to reconnect with their inner power and elevate the quality of their life.  With over 30 years of experience under his belt, he now brings to you this practical course on becoming more mindful in your everyday life.