Mindfulness: 9 reasons why you need it

It's not what's happening outside of ourselves that causes us the most difficulty, but rather what's going on inside our minds. So it makes sense to work our minds as much as our bodies. That’s where mindfulness comes in. 

Communication - Relating to others: Communicating skillfully and sensitively is essential to having a calm and clear mind. Applying greater restraint and empathy to your relationships is never wasted time. Anger rarely achieves anything.

Appreciation - Smelling the roses: Some people emphasise even the smallest difficulty in their lives with no time reflecting on the moments of happiness. Appreciate what you have, and you will also start noticing what is missing in the lives of others - and provide it.

Kindness - Towards both yourself and others: Being kind to others makes you feel good with a happy and peaceful mind. Show yourself some of that kindness. Too often in our competitive world, we are too harsh on ourselves when learning something new.

Compassion - In the shoes of others: Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to help others and themselves. It already exists within us. Make a conscious effort because we seldom have the headspace to think of something more than ourselves. It’s worth it.

Balance - A sense of Equanimity: Good and bad experiences are an inevitable part of life. If you are not mindful of this simple fact, you will be swept away by emotions. Having a greater awareness of your emotions will help you live a more balanced life.

Acceptance - Resistance is futile: The journey to acceptance is about discovering what you need to let go of, rather than what you need to start doing. Notice moments of resistance throughout the day to know what prevents acceptance from naturally arising in your life.

Composure - Letting go of impatience: For many people, life has now become busy, hectic, that. impatience is perhaps inevitable. By noticing the impatience with a genuine sense of curiosity, the very nature of it begins to change and the right action eases you out of it.

Dedication - Sticking with it: Mindfulness is a fundamental shift in the way you relate to your thoughts and feelings. By being mindful in your everyday life, you become aware of your motivations. By being rational about the decisions you make, it increases your confidence.

Presence - Living skillfully: It means having the presence of mind to restrain yourself when you think you might say or do something you'll later regret. By becoming more familiar with the space within yourself and trusting your instincts fully, you can make better choices.