Mindfulness to Help with Stress and Anxiety

In this video Colette Savage from the School of Education will focus on the areas of mindfulness that can help with anxiety and stress, to give you an understanding to what to focus on.

How can we practice Mindfulness?

Mindfulness can be practiced in a number of different ways, each with a specific purpose. Some people prefer one practise over another; however, it is important to understand what benefits the practise offers to you.

Another very important aspect of practise is our attitude towards ourselves. Always be kind, patient and compassionate towards ourselves as we practice. We can have good days and bad, we can be more stressed or anxious on any given day. Do not expect the same experience from a practice each time. Allow it to be what it needs to be in any given moment. Do not put yourself under pressure to ‘get it right’. There is only an experience, no right or wrong.

Allowing the experience to arise without trying to make it fit an expectation is much more authentic and helpful, it allows you to be you and not something you are trying to be. So, patience, kindness and compassion are essential companions as we practice. The practises included in each topic are a key part of your course. Mindfulness is experiential and although we have provided much information for you to know more about mindfulness, it is your own mindful practice which will enable you to develop your awareness of mindfulness.

There are many benefits of our practice:

• Exploring our awareness of our own mind, our traits, such as compassion, equanimity.
• Settling the mind- how can we cultivate an awareness of our mind and our habits.
• Reflect on how we got to this point, what is our motivation for doing this course, what is the WHY of our being here?
• Determine our intention for mindfulness practise, this will sustain us when the going gets tough.