5 Ways Mindfulness Enhances Wellness: A Guide to (eventual) Inner Peace

Mindfulness is a Journey

About once a month, I volunteer at our county jail to meditate with folks who are incarcerated there. Walking in on any given evening, its a mystery who will be there and what the meditation will look like.

Last night, a jailed person let me know that our practice brought up some pretty uncomfortable feelings for him. And yet- he said that it was probably stuff he needs to deal with and hasn't.

Cultivating wellness doesn't always mean being comfortable. In fact, it can often mean moving through some pretty uncomfortable things to reach a place where you feel solid and centered.

It's easy to become overwhelmed, stressed, and disconnected, moving through life on auto-pilot and never really coming home to ourselves because we're afraid of what we might find there. Mindfulness and meditation are critical tools for bringing us back home to our present moment- the good, the bad and the ugly of it. There is a power in being aware and present and this power can fuel big changes towards holistic and lasting well-being.

Here are just a few of the MANY ways finding a mindfulness practice can support your wellness.

1. Reducing Stress

Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and deep-breathing exercises, have been shown to reduce stress levels effectively. Once you are able to calm your nervous system, you might be able to actually bring into focus the contributors to your sense of unease and anxiety- and this might be scary. Once you're aware that your job, your relationship, your checking account, your bills are really impacting your health it might feel a little overwhelming.

However, research tells us that the simple act of becoming aware of your breath for 2 minutes has profound impact not only on stress and anxiety but also fuels a feeling of being capable to handle the storms of life. Getting a clear, mindful picture of your stressors paves the way for making meaningful change.

2. Enhancing Emotional Regulation

Emotional regulation!? What the eff is that!?

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” — Often attributed to Steven Covey or Viktor E. Frankl

By coming home to the present moment, you may find that you cultivate a greater awareness of your feelings and reactions. This awareness allows you to manage your emotional responses better, leading to improved mental health and relationships. But it might also bring into sharp focus when and where you tend to have strong emotional reactions that don't serve you or the ones you love.

Start slow by taking mindful pauses throughout your day to check in with your emotions and acknowledge them without judgment. Just a mindful breath or two before replying to an email or a text can have a profound impact.

3. Boosting Physical Health

One VERY cool thing about a mindfulness practice is that is isn't just good for your mind—it also has incredibly positive effects on your physical health. Regular mindfulness practice can improve sleep, lower blood pressure, and even boost your immune system. Incorporating mindful moments into your day, such as mindful eating or walking, can have a holistic impact on your well-being.

However, when you're experiencing illness, physical pain or discomfort it can be challenging to stay in the present moment. If you're able to sit with your experience, even for just a few breaths, you might notice a shift in your mindset and this can translate to real, physical benefits.

4. Improving Focus and Concentration

Do you often find your mind wandering or have trouble concentrating? Mindfulness can help. As a person with ADHD, my mindfulness practice is a critical component of my daily life. It's not always comfortable, though, to bring my awareness back to the NOW when I get such a massive dopamine hit by letting my attention travel to that upcoming vacation or that siren song of online shopping.

You don't need to be an ADHD'er like me to find massive benefits. Practices like meditation train your brain to stay focused and improve attention span. Setting aside just a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness can significantly enhance your ability to concentrate. Every time you bring your awareness back to the present moment, it's like doing a push-up for your brain- training yourself to stay focused on the task at hand.

5. (Eventually) Cultivating a Sense of Inner Peace

At its core, mindfulness is about finding peace and space within yourself. In order to do this, a mindfulness practice encourages you to really SEE yourself in the present moment. This may not be comfortable at first- in fact, it might be super difficult to sit with the reality of the present moment. However, by being present and accepting each moment as it comes, it is possible to build an inner sanctuary that transcends external circumstances and brings you peace even in the most difficult storms of life.