Learning mindfulness for wellbeing
What is mindfulness?
The NHS says, mindfulness involves paying attention to what is going on inside and outside ourselves, moment by moment.
It's easy to stop noticing the world around us. It's also easy to lose touch with the way our bodies are feeling and to end up living 'in our heads' – caught up in our thoughts without stopping to notice how those thoughts are driving our emotions and behaviour.
An important part of mindfulness is reconnecting with our bodies and the sensations they experience. This means paying attention to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the present moment. That might be something as simple as the feel of a banister as we walk upstairs.
Another important part of mindfulness is an awareness of our thoughts and feelings as they happen moment to moment.
How mindfulness helps mental wellbeing
Becoming more aware of the present moment can help us enjoy the world around us more and understand ourselves better. When we become more aware of the present moment, we begin to experience afresh things that we have been taking for granted.
Mindfulness allows us to become more aware of the stream of thoughts and feelings that we experience, and to see how we can become entangled in that stream in ways that are not helpful. This lets us stand back from our thoughts and start to see their patterns. Gradually, we can train ourselves to notice when our thoughts are taking over and realise that thoughts are simply 'mental events' that do not have to control us.
Mindfulness can help us deal with issues more productively. We can ask: 'Is trying to solve this by brooding about it helpful, or am I just getting caught up in my thoughts?' Awareness of this kind may also help us notice signs of stress or anxiety earlier and deal with them better.
Mindfulness-based therapies are also recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a way to treat less severe depression.
The Sussex Mindfulness Centre
The Sussex Mindfulness Centre is part of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. They offer mindfulness courses to help people improve wellbeing and mental health. Apart from teacher training and research, they specialise in offering mindfulness to staff working in the NHS, and social care sectors.
Free mindfulness tasters
Are you considering whether mindfulness is for you? Join free online taster sessions. This one-hour taster session will introduce you to the benefits of mindfulness. Benefits include improved wellbeing and ability to manage stress.
Book a free evening taster session on 26th of February, 6pm - 7pm here. For later dates, please visit the Sussex Mindfulness Centre website here.
Mindfulness for Life
The mindfulness programme guides participants in how to apply mindfulness in everyday life. It helps to manage what is painful and difficult and respond wisely, and to cultivate qualities such as compassion. It also supports our capacity to savour life and to flourish. Mindfulness for Life is an in-depth programme intended to cultivate lasting and sustainable change.
You find more information about the Mindfulness for Life course here.
Finding Peace in a Frantic World
This is an eight-week, mostly self-directed, mindfulness course. It offers an accessible and practical introduction to mindfulness, and is suitable for beginners who want to learn flexibly. You will be supported by experienced teacher in three one-hour, online sessions at the beginning, middle and end of the eight-week course.
Find more information about Finding Peace in a Frantic World here.
If you would like to learn more about Sussex Mindfulness news and events, visit the Sussex Mindfulness Centre - here.