Mindfulness or Not?

[Demuse]

My psychologist has been asking me to learn about mindfulness. What do you all think about it? Do you find it helpful or does it just not do the trick so to speak? I wonder because to me it seems kind of cultish.

[Starrlight]

I believe mindfulness is the paying attention non judgmentally as moments unfold. I find that when I can focus on now in this way I am not in past or future and it centers me.

[sheba55]

I am doing this right now. It helps calm the nervous system

[Mohammad-341]

that wil be very good , plz share the secret with me also.

[Renizzle2023]

Hey, good question. I agree that sometimes mindfulness sounds cultish the way people talk about it. However putting it into practice, trying it out, I have found it can really be helpful.

Some examples are, for quieting intrusive thoughts. I struggle a lot with intrusive thoughts and while being mindful of my surroundings doesn’t always do the trick immediately, it can help. In that context it’s basically a mental exercise, training my brain and replacing negative thoughts with neutral ones. Also for lifting your mood. I find that when I pay more attention to my surroundings especially outside, I tend to feel better. I’ve become more aware of the beauty around me and every bit of positivity counts.

If you try it you might find some other benefits. It’s probably different for everyone.

All the best.

[punkster]

I find it extremely helpful. You have to "practice" mindfulness, which means it takes time to get good at it so that it can work. I don't think mindfulness is cultish because it's all about staying in the present.

[Thankfulforhelp22]

Definitely can be a help. Research it and discuss with your therapist. Perhaps they can suggest some books. Helps me quite a bit. Very much worth looking into.

[Toddzen]

Bringing attention to the present moment has been helpful for me. It's a practice.

[designguy]

I've found it very helpful for learning to heal my anxiety issues by being able to detach from my thinking and observe my thoughts and to not believe my anxious thoughts which maintain the anxiety. It has also allowed me to be more in the present moment and have more connectedness with life.

My version is very simple, I just sit and focus initially on my breath and let whatever thoughts come and go in and out of my mind like clouds floating by and observe them. If my mind wanders I just bring my attention back to my breath. It helps me realize I am not my thoughts and that I have the choice whether to believe them or not. Over time I can do this while driving or sitting in a doctors office, etc... and it helps calm me and bring me back to the present moment.

i could care less if it is cultish or not, it works for me.