Being Mindful

By Eleanor, 18 - 14 Dec 2015

What do Angelina Jolie, Emma Watson and Oprah Winfrey all have in common?

These three celebrities all endorse the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness is a type of meditation which focuses on the breath. Through this meditation you are taught to acknowledge your thoughts (good and bad) in a non-judgmental way, and then to let go of any negativity that might be holding you down. You are taught to be compassionate with yourself, that your thoughts don’t define you, and that ultimately you have the choice about whether to respond to the negative thoughts you experience.

I was recommended mindfulness a few years ago when I went through a rough patch, and it is something I incorporate into my daily life. I’d recommend mindfulness to anyone who's going through a difficult situation, wants to learn to be present in the moment or wants to improve their overall well-being. Mindfulness can mean different things to different people but it certainly has a use for everyone.

Mindfulness has been proven to have many benefits: it's been shown to increase positivity and decrease stress, improve our ability to learn, make us more likely to help those in need, and it even enhances our immune system! If you want to read about some of the other sweet benefits of mindfulness check out this link: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness/definition

Mindfulness is very easy once you’ve practiced it a few times. Smiling Mind is a rad initiative which teaches the basics of mindfulness and has free online programmes catering to young people. They even have an app if you want to practice mindfulness on the go.

So what are you waiting for? Why not be part of the mindfulness revolution?

Eleanor, 18

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