Mindfulness is the practice of letting go, and focusing on the present moment. Focusing on the way your lungs fill up with air, the process of your feet touching the ground beneath… through such practices, your mind can stop spiralling during moments of anxiety and doubt, and instead focus on the current moment.
Naturally, by tackling moments of anxiety and doubt, it has been found that mindfulness can decrease stress, which in turn can decrease problems related to elevated stress, such as blood pressure. Through consistent practice of mindfulness, a person can also improve their coping mechanisms during trying times – such as during illness, grief, or moments of transition.
So why not give mindfulness a go? Find websites, or attend lectures on the practice, and find time every day (ideally every morning or night) to practice mindfulness. After a while you’ll be able to see the benefits for yourself!
Mel McElhatton holds a degree in Social Work from the University of Malta. Mel is also the producer of the radio show Niddiskutu s-Sess, and they are one of the facilitators in the IRL – In Real Life team. They can be contacted on mel@willingness.com.mt. You can visit their profile on: https://zme.tec.mybluehost.me/willingnessmt/team/mel-mcelhatton/
References:
Remmers, C., Topolinski, S., & Koole, S. L. (2016). Why being mindful may have more benefits than you realize: Mindfulness improves both explicit and implicit mood regulation. Mindfulness 7, 829-827. doi:10.1007/s12671-016-0520-1