Of course, that’s what we all are looking for.
The ultimate goal.
The zenith of peace and awareness— mindfulness.
Compared to the usual meditation it is NOT the state of nothingness but RATHER the state of being accepting and aware of the present and being in harmony with it.
But before you learn to teach it of course you should first learn about it.
MINDFUL MEDITATION
Mindfulness is the state of being present, curious, conscious and open at the same time. It is looking within and outside ourselves, seeking to understand and accept without judging.
The concept of mindfulness is also the bridge between positive psychology and wellbeing. Mindfulness meditation is like the branch of meditation with scientific use, related studies and use in therapies.
Mindfulness is essential in meditation teaching which has been extensively used in clinical interventions in the West like mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR); mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT); and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). It has been used in meditation interventions used in experimental studies done in different settings like parenting, athletes, healthcare workers, patient in psychiatric institutions and those with chronic or terminal illnesses.
IF YOU WANT TO START AND TRY THIS TYPE OF MEDITATION HERE ARE THE TWO IMPORTANT EXERCISES THAT YOU MAY TRY:
1. THE FIRST THING IS, YOU SHOULD FACE DEATH.
Yes, you read it right. Death.
- The peak of your mortality, you reflect on the endpoint of your life. You look into the possibilities of what your final moment might be, putting into context your present situation, decisions, priorities and goals.
- What if you made the worst decisions, how will your concluding chapter be? Who would be there? What will be there? You can also try to imagine about taking your final breath after living a life in with the most fulfilling life, what do you think would be the biggest influences you would have left behind?
These exercises where you examine how life would have passed you by will help you understand the biggest fears you have and the aspirations of which you could find meaning and purpose for you to live.
You should learn to accept that there is a certain endpoint and though it is unknown, you should come to terms that it comes for everyone—not just for you, but also your friends and loved ones. You may know or have seen how much a loss of someone puts a certain impact on a person’s wellbeing. It is in accepting the certainty of death that a person makes peace with their existence.
- Another way that you could look at it is how death may come after ageing. You do know how difficult it would be to grow old. We all would love to age gracefully hoping to easily learn to accept the wrinkles, sagged skin, falling teeth and fragility that comes with it.
- How do you imagine yourself ageing? How do you think you will come to terms with it?
2. INCREASING SELF-AWARENESS— UNDERSTANDING HOW THINGS ARE UP ONLY TO AN EXTENT WHEN LOOKING AT A BROADER PERSPECTIVE.
In meditation, the most important part of being aware is the use of the senses.
If mindful meditation is about increasing self-awareness, this means that youdo not simply try to think of nothing BUT INSTEAD embrace everything you see as youare looking into yourself, listening to your inner troubles, feeling the emotions that are within you and the emotions that you put outside yourself.
Mindful meditation is finding peace not at the state of having without any, but in finding acceptance and understanding with everything that is within yourself and your doing. And just like the second wave of positive psychology, you do not dismiss the negative emotions and thoughts but instead, you understand how it is a part of you and how at a bigger perspective those negativities are vital and could turn into a positive, like turning into growth and development. You also realize that the optimistic characters, thoughts, attitudes and emotions are beneficial yes, but only to an extent and that you should still keep it in check although it makes you feel good.
Self-awareness is bringing attention to your present, instead of worrying about the future and ruminating the past. It is putting yourself into the now and doing the things that will set you in the path you want for the future and stray you away from your former mistakes. But again it is only to an extent, like how not worrying about the future is not akin to not doing what would set you up for a future that you aspire.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MINDFUL MEDITATION TEACHING?
- This research-backed meditation has shown to promote psychological well-being.
Studies conducted with mindful meditation showed higher levels of psychological well-being, low level of fear of emotion and higher behavioural regulation (Lykins and Baer, 2009). Psychological well-being is the scientific term used to measure happiness.
Mindful meditation = higher happiness!
- It helps curb relapses.
Research by Witkiewitz, Marlatt, & Walker (2005) shows that including mindfulness-based intervention was effective to help the relapse of alcohol and substance abuse subjects.
Can you imagine the big help that you could offer to those who are looking for a way out of their addictions?
- Alleviate chronic pain, stress, and depression.
Some of the studies conducted involved fibromyalgia, cancer patients, and those with multiple sclerosis.
With the use of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), results showed significant decreased depressed symptoms, feeling of manageability, reduction in fatigue, and improvements in mood.
- Form of help for those with a severe mental health problem
Studies also showed how mindful meditation incorporated in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which are therapies structured for those with severe mental health problems like chronic suicidal tendencies, self-harming behaviour, severe borderline personality disorder (BPD), substance-dependent patients and those with psychoses showed a decrease in suicidal behaviours, depressive and anger episodes, self-harming behaviour, substance dependence and in-patient days in facilities.
Not only does mindful meditation helps the typical crowd but also the people that need attention and help.
These are just some of the notable studies and benefits of Mindful Meditation and how being a meditation teacher could benefit YOU for growth and also YOUR COMMUNITY. Why not try it?
References:
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