Mindfulness:  This term comes up quite often. What is its importance? What aspects of Mindfulness resonate with our daily experiences in and with society today? Let’s start with a working definition of Mindfulness.

Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and our relations to the surrounding environment. Important you say? When we are thinking, processing, and reacting to life as we live it in the very moment, we are better able to react to whatever situation we may find ourselves in, and we are better able to make sound choices: Life is all about choices. When our thoughts are free from past or future-thinking trauma-emotions, we play a better role in our awareness and attain a deeper understanding of self.

Meditation (in some cultures it likens to prayer) sets the stage for thought processes that are more logical and fruitful. The mind manifests thoughts into things and having a quiet mind is crucial to choosing a lifestyle engaged in targeted intentions and mindful purpose. In the end being aware of how we reckon with life and how we formulate choices takes a steady, quiet mind. Our aim in meditation: to stay present.

Mindfulness also means that we do not judge ourselves, we just let ourselves be; we understand what we feel; we are aware of what is important; we bring about change in the present suitable moment and there are no judgments of past mistakes or future predictabilities.

Mindfulness affects our very being. It is good for our whole selves. The act of staying present and concentrating on the now, studies show, that people who practice Mindfulness reduce their negative emotions and stress, therefore, boosting their immune systems and increasing their capacity to avoid sickness and disease. Mindfulness can even change our brains by increasing brain cells in the areas linked to memory, learning, and empathy and helps people to regulate emotions. Concentrating on the present is paramount in tuning out distractions.

Mindfulness targets healthy eating and in-the-moment eating signals your inherent food-intake regulators to accurately trigger when to stop eating: no over-eating. Your system digests better. When you slowly chew the enzymes in your mouth are sending signals to the brain to release the appropriate acids into the stomach for the incoming feast. Food tastes better since your taste buds are given the time to detect the beautiful flavors of the world and you may even experience that maintaining an ideal weight becomes less of an obsession.  

Holistic Wellness deals with the natural laws of life and the awareness that ailments from which we may suffer such as chronic inflammation, fatigue, anxiety, and depression can be more interconnected than we think. Holistic Wellness deals with modalities or disciplines (8 Pillars) to get the Whole Self back in balance, to achieve optimal wellness and a healthy state. Which pillars are impacting your Whole health, and your life as a whole?

Mindfulness is a practice that needs daily tending. Surround yourself with kindness and an appreciation of Self, and quiet down. Your subconscious will guide you through the reflection needed to take full advantage of the power of the mind. The act of being Mindful is what resonates with every aspect of society today.

For further information on how you or a loved one could benefit from a Holistic Wellness, Whole Health path, please do not hesitate to contact me at sixto@drsixto.me

To your Whole Health, naturally!

Sixto J. Sicilia Ph. D.