The word mindful comes from the old English word ‘myndful’, which meant ‘of good memory’. In order to have good memory, you need to pay attention to the present moment. In the contemporary world, the term mindfulness refers to being fully present in the given moment, and being consciously aware of where one is and what one is experiencing.
While this seems simple enough, mostly people have a tough time focusing on the present moment as their minds may be full of thoughts of the future or the past. There are many benefits of working with a mindfulness coach. Here are some that may interest you.
Understanding the Basics
Your mindfulness coach will help you understand how easy it is for your mind to become distracted and to follow a chain of thought that takes you away from the present moment. The instructor will explain and guide you through practices that will increase your mindfulness. Some of these practices include mindful meditation and breathing exercises. The breath is often used a focal point in the practice of mindfulness. Whenever the mind wanders, your mindfulness coach will encourage you to bring your focus back to the breath.
A Sense of Calm
Mindfulness is not something that is achieved like a certificate but an ongoing practice. In every moment of your day if you strive to find mindfulness, a sense of calm will descend. Your coach will guide you through the mindfulness exercises and also encourage you to practice them independently. You may wish to use audio recordings of the coach’s instructions to help you through the practice. Like most things in life, the more you practice, the easier it will become for you to remain mindful.
Responding in a Mindful Manner
Most mindfulness students state that the sense of calm that they experience from the mindfulness exercises gives them a unique sense of control over their lives. They feel less stressed and less likely to react rather than respond to an individual or a situation. We cannot control circumstances or how other people behave. However, we can control how we respond in every moment. Working with a mindfulness coach would help you become more aware of a situation and your response to it.
Better Focus and Performance
When you teach your mind to stay mindful, your ability to pay attention and focus is enhanced. This in turn affects how you are able to analyze the situation and ultimately it improves your performance. Mindfulness can improve your personal and professional life in innumerable ways, and make them better.