An Introduction to Mindfulness

Name: An Introduction to Mindfulness
Author: Michelle Gifford

Learn the meaning of mindfulness and several reasons to practice it daily

Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 5 lessons.

Course: On-Demand

(light music) Welcome to An Introduction to Mindfulness. In these lessons, you'll learn about the meaning of mindfulness. You'll discover how to prepare yourself for practicing it as well as the benefits. We'll also discuss how being more mindful can help you alleviate stress. Mindfulness allows you the opportunity to fully embrace the present. According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, being mindful is the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences, on a moment-to-moment basis. To embrace moments as they happen, you must acknowledge what's going on around you and within you. In many instances, you may be distracted by your hopes, fears, and intrusive thoughts. For example, sometimes we focus on the past, like what we could have done differently or imagining different outcomes if we had made different choices. You may even become fixated on these distractions instead of paying more attention to the present moment. It's important to remember that your reality is the here and now. When you develop better habits of being mindful and present, you can begin to appreciate your life. The idea of mindfulness isn't a new concept. The understandings of mindfulness can be traced back to early Buddhism in the 5th century BCE. The practices and programs we have now, such as mindfulness coaching, techniques, exercises, and therapy are more common and formal. For instance, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a Professor of Medicine Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, developed an eight-week program known as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, or MBSR. This practice was designed to lower stress and enhance people's overall wellbeing. It's been taught globally, is popular in many industries, and is supported by research. More than 20,000 people have participated in his mindfulness program since the '80s. His proven practices are effective for alleviating stress, chronic illness, and pain. MBSR is based on a type of Buddhist meditation called Vipassana, which means insight or clear seeing. It involves a certain type of mental training that aims to achieve quieting your mind, focusing on the present, accepting your thoughts and emotions, dwelling less on the past, worrying less about the future, and avoiding responding to situations based on preconceived notions. These are goals that you can set for yourself every day. Most people can live mindfully. But just like learning how to ride a bike, practice makes perfect. A suggested goal would be to practice mindfulness until it becomes a natural part of who you are.

Essential Provider : Michelle Gifford 5 Lessons · 17m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

When practiced with consistency, mindfulness can play a major role in managing your stress and anxiety. Mindfulness can also improve your focus and mental clarity, as well as your overall health and well-being. This sounds like exactly what you need, right? But you may be thinking that you just don’t have any extra time or energy to devote to a new activity. The fact is that by engaging in mindfulness, you’ll not only gain more energy, but you’ll also increase your productivity which will give you more time for the things you enjoy. Preparing yourself for mindfulness doesn’t take a lot of hard work. It does require practice, though, and the ability to embrace the moment with intention. Developing this skill can make mindfulness an important part of your life, particularly when you need calmness the most! When you have this skill under your belt, you may feel more confident in your ability to conquer your stressors. Mindfulness might even make you more confident in your ability to build resilience in tough times.

In these lessons, you’ll learn the meaning of mindfulness, understand the benefits and reasons for engaging in mindfulness, and learn how to prepare for practicing it daily.

What You'll Learn

Define the term mindfulness and what it means
Explain the need for mindful practice every day and list its benefits
Identify the steps needed to prepare for mindful living
Recognize how mindfulness can help manage stress and anxiety while improving focus and mental clarity
Practice embracing the moment with intention to make mindfulness part of daily life

Key Takeaways

Practiced with consistency, mindfulness can play a major role in managing stress and anxiety.
Mindfulness can improve focus and mental clarity as well as overall health and well-being.
Engaging in mindfulness can give you more energy and increase your productivity, freeing up time for the things you enjoy.
Preparing for mindfulness does not take a lot of hard work, but it requires practice and the ability to embrace the moment with intention.
Building the skill of mindfulness can make you feel more confident in conquering stressors and building resilience in tough times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn in this course?

You will learn the meaning of mindfulness, understand the benefits and reasons for engaging in mindfulness, and learn how to prepare for practicing it daily.

What topics do the lessons cover?

The lessons cover What is Mindfulness?, The Need for Mindfulness, The Benefits of Mindfulness, and Preparing for Mindfulness, followed by a Test Your Knowledge assessment.

How can mindfulness benefit me?

When practiced with consistency, mindfulness can help manage stress and anxiety, improve focus and mental clarity, increase energy and productivity, and support overall health and well-being.

Does practicing mindfulness require a lot of effort?

Preparing yourself for mindfulness does not take a lot of hard work, but it does require practice and the ability to embrace the moment with intention.