The M Word | The Mindful Blog

"The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn.

WHO AM I?

My Name Is Anna.

I am a postgrad student with a background in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing. At present, I work in mental health with an amazing West Yorkshire based charity helping people with mental health problems move forward in their recovery and live independent, fulfilling lives.

I'm very passionate about the field of work I aspire to go into because I want to be a part of the generation who enforce the dramatic change, that is so desperately needed throughout the services people access to help with their emotional wellbeing.

Why are you babbling on about ‘mindfulness’?

Well.. From a young persons perspective, I believe that more of us need to live more in the moment. This is so we are able to feel more in control of our minds and our lives. (SOUNDS DEEP) But ultimately, being mindful is simply processing all our thoughts and feelings as they arise in the mind and body.

Sounds straight forward right?

Well, living mindlessly is often associated with a large amount of worrying and is accompanied by a sense of overall stress.

"The more aware you can be of your thoughts, your feelings, your responses, your behaviours, the people around you, the world around you and your place in that world... The more you come to understand that you always have a choice in how you think, feel, respond and behave." (Jo Howarth, The Happiness Lady)

If you are mindful, you respond more skilfully to whatever is actually happening in your life. This is good because you are becoming more conscious or aware of something (Which brings use when addressing problems, reducing worries, anxiety and distress) You can also use this skill to improve overall wellbeing and bring about calmness and relaxation.