What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is both a process and a way of life. It is about paying attention to the moments in our lives in a particular way.
Mindfulness training allows us:
- The opportunity to strengthen our ability to be in the present moment.
- To learn about mindful awareness and how to meditate.
- To get to know ourselves and our habits of reacting to the world around us.
Mindfulness has been shown to assist some people to better manage anxiety, stress and depression and also benefit many different areas of our lives. Through learning how to be mindful, we offer ourselves the opportunity to live in a way that is more fulfilling.
Mindfulness and cancer
Coping with cancer is demanding, both for your body and your mind. At times you may find yourself so caught up in worries that it is hard to think about anything else.
Mindfulness can be particularly useful as a way to manage the demands of cancer and the associated uncertainty. It offers the opportunity to learn alternative ways of coping with the challenges (both physical and emotional) of a cancer diagnosis, so that you may be more able to be present in your life, rather than consumed with the difficulties.
Try this brief exercise: The 3 Minute breathing space. It can help you to slow down and pause at any time during your day.