Welcome to the Mindful Leadership Blog

​
10 Reasons You Need to Start Practicing Mindfulness Now
Chances are, you’ve heard of mindfulness. But, what is it and why is it important? Read our interview with Harper College CE instructor Christopher George to learn exactly what mindfulness is and the benefits of practicing it.

MINDFULNESS FOR BEGINNERS: Many of us spend too much time replaying events of the past or worrying about an imagined future, which contributes to stress and unhappiness. Mindfulness helps us cultivate present moment awareness by deliberately paying attention with a sense of openness, curiosity and patience. We are able to tap inner resources for greater clarity, ease, compassion, and resilience. Get an introduction to mindfulness with practice exercises, including guided sitting and walking meditation, body scan, and mindful communication. Explore bringing mindfulness into your daily life.

How would you describe the essence of what mindfulness is?
Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there’s a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.

In addition to reducing the stress in your life, what other benefits can mindfulness provide?Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness, even for just a few weeks, can bring a variety of physical, psychological, and social benefits. Here are some of these benefits, which extend across many different settings. 

1. Mindfulness is good for our bodies: A seminal study found that, after just eight weeks of training, practicing mindfulness meditation boosts our immune system’s ability to fight off illness.
2. Mindfulness is good for our minds: Several studies have found that mindfulness increases positive emotions while reducing negative emotions and stress. Indeed, at least one study suggests it may be as good as antidepressants in fighting depression and preventing relapse.
3. Mindfulness changes our brains: Research has found that it increases density of gray matter in brain regions linked to learning, memory, emotion regulation, and empathy.
4. Mindfulness helps us focus: Studies suggest that mindfulness helps us tune out distractions and improves our memory and attention skills.
5. Mindfulness fosters compassion and altruism: Research suggests mindfulness training makes us more likely to help someone in need and increases activity in neural networks involved in understanding the suffering of others and regulating emotions. Evidence suggests it might boost self-compassion as well.
6. Mindfulness enhances relationships: Research suggests mindfulness training makes couples more satisfied with their relationship, makes each partner feel more optimistic and relaxed, and makes them feel more accepting of and closer to one another.
7. Mindfulness is good for parents and parents-to-be: Studies suggest it may reduce pregnancy-related anxiety, stress, and depression in expectant parents. Parents who practice mindfulness report being happier with their parenting skills and their relationship with their kids, and their kids were found to have better social skills.
8. Mindfulness helps health care professionals cope with stress, connect with their patients, and improve their general quality of life. It also helps mental health professionals reduce negative emotions and anxiety, and increasing their positive emotions and feelings of self-compassion.
9. Mindfulness helps veterans: Studies suggest it can reduce the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath of war.
10. Mindfulness fights obesity: Practicing “mindful eating” encourages healthier eating habits, helps people lose weight, and helps them savor the food they do eat.

How do you approach teaching or helping people to become more mindful?
My approach to teaching mindfulness to others is through practical and proven ways for self-care, and connecting with yourself and others in new and meaningful ways, providing simple, effective mindfulness practices that can be integrated during their lives.