Mindfulness: Understanding and Implementing the Practice

Mindfulness is a state of being present and fully engaged in the moment. It is a practice that has gained immense popularity in recent years and is often used as a tool for stress reduction and overall well-being. Despite its growing popularity, many people still have misconceptions about what mindfulness is and how it can be practiced. In this article, we will explore the concept of mindfulness in depth and offer practical tips for incorporating mindfulness into your daily life.


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What is Mindfulness?


Mindfulness is a practice that involves bringing your full attention to the present moment, without judgment. It means paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise, without getting caught up in them or trying to change them. By doing this, you can increase your awareness of the present moment and develop a more intentional and fulfilling life.

The practice of mindfulness has its roots in ancient Eastern traditions, including Buddhism. However, mindfulness has been adapted and incorporated into many Western approaches to health and wellness. Research has shown that mindfulness can have a positive impact on a variety of health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. It has also been shown to improve focus, increase empathy and compassion, and enhance overall well-being.

Benefits of Mindfulness

There are numerous benefits to practicing mindfulness on a regular basis. Some of the most notable benefits include:

Reduced stress and anxiety: By bringing your focus to the present moment, you can reduce the impact of stress and anxiety on your life.
Improved physical and mental health: Regular mindfulness practice has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
Increased focus and productivity: Mindfulness can help you become more focused and productive by allowing you to stay present and focused on the task at hand.
Improved relationships: Mindfulness can improve communication and increase empathy and compassion, leading to better relationships with others.
How to Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Daily Life

Incorporating mindfulness into your daily life can be as simple or as complex as you like. Here are some practical tips for getting started:
Start with a few minutes a day: Start by setting aside just a few minutes each day for mindfulness practice. This can be as simple as paying attention to your breath, or you can try a guided meditation.
Make mindfulness a habit: Incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine by practicing it at the same time each day. This can help you make mindfulness a habit, rather than something you have to remember to do.
Practice mindfulness in everyday activities: You don't have to set aside special time for mindfulness practice. You can practice mindfulness in everyday activities, such as taking a walk, cooking, or washing the dishes.
Find a mindfulness community: Find a group of people who are interested in mindfulness and practice with them regularly. This can help you stay motivated and committed to the practice.
Conclusion

Mindfulness is a practice that can have a positive impact on your life in numerous ways. From reducing stress and anxiety to improving physical and mental health, mindfulness can help you live a more intentional and fulfilling life. By incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine and making it a habit, you can reap the benefits of this ancient practice.
































Mindfulness the new anti-depressant

Mindfulness hypnosis cumbria

So what exactly is mindfulness? One my client’s from Kendal recently asked me what was the ‘big deal’ about mindfulness? There's a great deal of buzz and interest at the moment about this word, especially in education and conventional medicine. So here it is - In its simplest terms, mindfulness is about being present in the moment while you calmly reflect on your feelings and thoughts and bodily sensations as you experience them in the here and now without forcing them or resisting them in any way. When you can be fully present, without resisting or trying to shy away from your feelings and emotions, then you start to create a space around you which allows you to take hold more effectively of the situations you face and the choices you make. Life is full of challenges, but when we are mindful we are better able to work with our minds and bodies so that we can deal with our life’s anxieties and stresses far more effectively.

Trying to be mindful on a day-to-day basis does require a certain amount of learning and patience, but once you learn to be mindful the new perspective which you can get on your life can be fundamentally life changing. The reason mindfulness is being accepted more and more within conventional medicine is because it is seen as one of the many psychological tools that can be equally if not more effective than embarking on a course of medication as prescribed by most general practitioners. Many of my referrals from GPs are directly related to mindfulness training.

Mindfulness is not new either. With its origins in Buddhism, it has been around for thousands of years, only recently however being accepted by Western health care. The reason I mention it here, is because hypnotherapy, and all the techniques which are utilised here at the Cumbria Hypnosis Clinic have their roots in mindfulness practices. For over a decade now, the mindfulness therapy which I have been using has helped hundreds of people to deal with their everyday stresses, panic attacks, and anxiety disorders, as well as dealing with more general negative behaviours like smoking and gambling.

“Once I learned the self hypnosis techniques (mindfulness techniques) shown to me by David, I have been able to sleep better, I have a much better appetite, and things just don’t get to me as easily” Paul Carter (Penrith, Cumbria)

The great news is that anyone can learn how to become skilful in mindfulness, children, teenagers and adults alike can benefit from this simple yet life changing practice. Although there are many different ways you can develop your ability to be more mindful, the most effective way to become more knowledgeable is by being trained on a one-to-one basis with a trained mindfulness teacher. My experience with mindfulness extends over a period of 10 years. Not only do I use mindfulness within my hypnotherapy clinic with all my clients on a daily basis, but I have also taught children and other practitioners how to use the most cutting edge mindfulness strategies to help overcome any limiting belief or behaviour.

If you would like an opportunity to discuss your mindfulness goals with me then you can contact me directly by clicking on this link.


Have a peaceful day

David Faratian




Power of Imagination

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Your imagination is an amazing gift, that used correctly can be used for many different applications. All too often however people  are unaware of just how underdeveloped their imaginations really are. Most likely if your current situation doesn’t require you to use your imagination then the last time you really had the opportunity to exercise your brain was when you were a child. That being the case then you are missing out on an amazing tool. Your ability to control your mind through your imagination can give you control over all kinds of areas in your life. Using your imagination you can change any habit, sleep better, control anxiety set any goal and deal with any fear. For years the medical profession has argued that the only way to deal with certain conditions was through the power of medicine and counselling. In more recent times, however, psychologists have discovered that imagination is the key to most long-term change both mental and in some cases physiological. Conditions like IBS and migraines although often treatable through conventional medicine can also be greatly helped through more psychological approaches like hypnosis and meditation practices.


So what is your imagination exactly?

Your imagination is your ability to create mental images of something that may already exist or it may be the ability for you to imagine objects, situations or circumstances which do not exist right now. From the moment we are born our imaginations allow us to create through sound taste smell and touch. As children are imaginations can sometimes become over generalised this overgeneralisation can lead to the beginning of an irrational phobia or anxiety which can persist well into adult hood. Fear of flying or general anxiety disorders can often find their root cause in an over active imagination which creates a negative anticipation of something which hasn’t even happened and yet is real enough through the pictures the person creates internally to lead to acutely ‘real’ physiological symptoms in the person like shortness of breath, sweating and gastric problems. 

Everything that we create for the beauty of the world, whether in the art world in music in literature or simply through the many thousand inventions that we all take for granted today were born out of imagination.

And it is imagination which is at the heart of many of the psychological tools used by Cumbria Hypnosis.  There are people who say they have no imagination.The fact is that some imaginations are weaker than others but everyone has the ability to visualise. 

Want to see how powerful your imagination is and whether Cumbria Hypnosis can help you? Take this little test now by watching the video below and see whether you would fit into the 85% of people who can use their imaginations for long-term change?

Your imagination is an amazing gift, that used correctly can be used for many different applications. All too often however people  are unaware of just how underdeveloped their imaginations really are. Most likely if your current situation doesn’t require you to use your imagination then the last time you really had the opportunity to exercise your brain was when you were a child. That being the case then you are missing out on an amazing tool. Your ability to control your mind through your imagination can give you control over all kinds of areas in your life. Using your imagination you can change any habit, sleep better, control anxiety set any goal and deal with any fear. For years the medical profession has argued that the only way to deal with certain conditions was through the power of medicine and counselling. In more recent times, however, psychologists have discovered that imagination is the key to most long-term change both mental and in some cases physiological. Conditions like IBS and migraines although often treatable through conventional medicine can also be greatly helped through more psychological approaches like hypnosis and meditation practices.