what is mindfulness?

​Mindfulness  is one of those buzz words that seems to be everywhere right now. But with everybody talking about it, no one really seems to be able to explain what it is or why it is so important. So what is Mindfulness, really? Mindfulness is paying attention to the here and now, on purpose, without judgment. Simple as that. When we are practicing mindfulness we are bringing the present moment into our full awareness. We are observing our senses, our physical sensations, and our emotional landscape, and being present with whatever we notice – good, bad, or ugly. Sometimes that is very pleasant, sometimes it is can be very uncomfortable.  But why is it important? Practicing mindfulness is one the best ways to engage your brains plasticity – it’s ability to stretch and change itself. It is plasticity that allows our brains to rewire in order to learn new patterns and unlearn old ones. When we are chronically stressed (and who isn’t!?) our brains remember that and respond reactively according to old patterns. Practicing mindfulness allows the brain to focus on the here and now rather than reverting to old, stressed out patterns. What does this mean for you? It means mindfulness can actually help your brain create new neural pathways to experience CALM. There are lots of helpful tools and techniques out there to help you build your mindfulness practice. Need some help building or fine-tuning your mindfulness practice? Schedule an appointment today!