Hi There
I discovered mindfulness fifteen years ago as a means for coping with severe panic attacks. The concept was to change my life for the better. I was introduced to Mindfulness through a book recommended to me by my Psychologist. That book was ‘The Happiness Trap’ by Russ Harris.
Though my transformation was anything but overnight, over time, and in particular, more recently, it has become clear to me that mindfulness is more than just a coping mechanism; it is a concept that can be applied to every aspect of life with positive results. Will it fix all my problems? No way. Will it allow me to accept things as they are right now? Most of the time, yes.
This is not a blog about being stylish after fifty as I am anything but stylish. It’s not about telling people what they should desire to do after fifty. I’m not going to tell you you should travel the world, foster deeper, more meaningful relationships, dine out at five star restaurants or acquire a particular brand of anything. If you do choose to do these things, just do so mindfully.
I’m not a writer, I am not a particularly ambitious person, nor am I very confident. I don’t float through life with a constant smile on my face. Life is challenging, and with the big five O and becoming a Grandmother approaching fast, this blog is perhaps just another coping mechanism to help ease my path into my ‘Senior’ years. If it introduces just one other person to the benefits of Mindfulness, that will be a bonus.
The Potential Benefits of Mindfulness
- A better understanding of your body and how it deals with emotions
- A reduction in levels of stress and anxiety
- A greater acceptance of thoughts, emotions and situations
- Improvements to memory, concentration and cognitive ability
- Increased productivity
- Increased creativity
- More fulfilling relationships
- More patience
- I greater sense of gratitude
- The ability to develop self-acceptance and self-compassion
In my next post, I will explain what Mindfulness means to me personally.
