Mindfulness Explained: Mindfulness

By Henry Thomason

We're all hearing about Mindfulness right now, but what does it mean?

How can we use Mindfulness to help in our lives, ease anxiety and increase a sense of relaxation and peace?

This book will explain the principles of Mindfulness simply, and in plain language we can all understand.
A must-read book if you want to improve your life.

 

This book covers:

•    A brief history of mindfulness
•    Mindfulness contraindications
•    Why you should be mindful
•    The eight attitudes of mindfulness
•    The four agreements of mindfulness
•    How to live in the present moment
•    Mindful eating
•    Apps for mindfulness
•    Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
•    Mindfulness meditations
•    Mindfulness exercises

• Language: English
• Publisher: Henry Thomason
• Release date: Jul 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393305811

Book preview

Copyright 2020 Henry Thomason

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MINDFULNESS EXPLAINED

Table of Contents

Introduction

A definition of mindfulness

Why mindfulness?

The eight attitudes of mindfulness

The four agreements of Mindfulness

Taking the first steps towards mindfulness

Daily mindfulness

Mindfulness meditation

Mindful eating

The best apps for mindfulness

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

Exercises for mindfulness

Conclusion

Further resources

About the Author

Introduction

Over the past twenty years or so, mindfulness has become one of the most popular practices when it comes to improving your mental health. It has been incorporated into daily practice by Fortune 500 companies and celebrities, all adding to its authenticity and appeal. What’s more, mindfulness has the backing of science which proves it really does work.

But what is mindfulness?

In essence, mindfulness is all about being fully in the present moment, without obsessing about the past or worrying about the future. It’s a concept so simple in theory, yet many are too intimidated to try, believing you have to be some kind of Zen master to practice it. In this book, we delve into this topic in depth, providing a number of exercises which will enable anyone to take advantage of this powerful technique, regardless of how much of a novice you are.

Anyone can use mindfulness to cope with the stresses and strains of their daily lives. By the end of this book, you’ll have everything you need to take advantage of its many benefits.

This book covers:

A brief history of mindfulness

Mindfulness contraindications

Why you should be mindful

The eight attitudes of mindfulness

The four agreements of mindfulness

How to live in the present moment

Mindful eating

Apps for mindfulness

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy

Mindfulness meditations

Mindfulness exercises

A definition of mindfulness

Mindfulness is all about being fully cognisant of what’s happening in our internal and external world at any given moment. Most of us spent the majority of our time, if not all of it, in a state of mindlessness. We’re not fully conscious of what’s going on around us, reacting instinctively rather than with control and consciousness. Mindfulness involves tapping into what’s happening in the present so we can be fully aware and make better, well informed choices.

Mindfulness has been incorporated into various clinical therapies and in this context, it is widely held to mean an awareness which comes about by cultivating three specific skills:

Consciously paying attention to events as they unfold on a moment-by-moment basis, noting both internal and external factors

Recognising habitual responses to events, which may be characterised by avoidance or overthinking

Nurturing the ability to react to events and people from a place of active curiosity and compassion

A brief history of mindfulness

Modern mindfulness transcends religion or spirituality and can be practiced by even the most ardent of atheists. However, it is an ancient technique which has been practiced by countless people for millennia, either as a standalone attitude or as part of a broader spiritual tradition.

Many of us associate mindfulness with Eastern religious and spiritual movements, most notably Buddhism and Hinduism. However, it’s worth noting that it can also be found in early Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Indeed, the ancient Greeks were spiritual masters in their own right, as well as the founders of modern democracy and groundbreaking philosophers and scientists. For example, Heraclitus, an early Greek philosopher said that Self-knowledge is every person’s birthright, as well as you’ll never find the limits of the soul, no matter how many roads you travel, emphasizing the importance of inner calm and understanding. Socrates popularized the phrase Know Thyself, which was inscribed on the Temple of Delphi, and an important principle of mindfulness.

It’s easy to forget that mindfulness is just as much a part of a Western spiritual heritage is it is Eastern.

However, over time, its appeal waned in the West until a resurgence of interest during the 20th century led to people turning to Eastern teachers to rediscover what was forgotten. So, what we understand as mindfulness now owes a huge debt to Eastern spirituality.

Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism is generally held to be the oldest religion in the world, but its exact origins are unknown. It grew out of a number of spiritual traditions in what is now India. Unlike Christianity or Islam, say, it has no individual founder and no definitive start date. Indeed, it wasn’t until the 1800s that the various Vedic traditions were brought together under the name of ‘Hinduism.’

Mindfulness has been an integral part of Hinduism for millennia. The Bhagavad Gita talks about yoga while Vedic meditation is a study in mindfulness. Mindfulness is inseparable from Hinduism.

Unlike Hinduism’s mysterious past, we know a lot more about the history of Buddhism. Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Buddha, Buddhism originated around 400-500 BCE. Gautama is believed to have been born somewhere in India or Nepal, where he grew up, which means it’s highly likely he was exposed to Hindu teachings. As