I know what you’re thinking, you’re tired of hearing about mindfulness. You’re also thinking, “of course I’m consciously aware of the negative feelings I have, why should I focus on them? Shouldn’t I try to focus on something else to distract myself?” The truth is, when you try to ignore the way you feel, your problems don’t go away, and sometimes they get worse. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a modified form of cognitive therapy that incorporates mindfulness practices such as meditation and breathing exercises in order to change the relationship one has with sadness and other negative emotions. You can read more about the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach here.
Again, you’re probably rolling your eyes at the idea of meditation and breathing exercises, but meditation just means self-regulating the mind through concentration and being fully conscious and present in the moment. Many people practice meditation everyday without even realizing it. Practice mindfulness by:
· Listening to music
· Yoga
· Journaling
Mindfulness can help you acknowledge the feelings of anxiety and depression and how these feelings affect your life. Once these feelings are acknowledged, only then can you take the next steps to help yourself.
Here are more ideas on how to practice meditation & mindfulness.