"Mindfulness" is a buzzword nowadays, and you may wonder what it means. It's a commonly misunderstood term! At its core, mindfulness is about cultivating present-moment awareness without judgment. It's about paying attention to the here and now, allowing you to observe thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations with openness and acceptance.
Mindfulness has worked its way into the world of mental health over the years because of its many benefits to cognition and mental well-being. When you are mindful, you can notice your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations as they happen nonjudgmentally. The goal isn't to clear your mind of your thoughts entirely. Instead, it is to become aware of your thoughts and feelings without being swept away in them.
Mindfulness has been the subject of extensive research, and many scientifically proven benefits have been associated with its practice. Some well-documented benefits of mindfulness include stress reduction, improved mental health and cognitive function, enhanced emotional regulation, increased focus and attention, better sleep, and many others.
So, why is mindfulness so helpful in maintaining sobriety?
Emotional Regulation
For one, mindfulness encourages you to acknowledge and accept your emotions without judgment. This acceptance can reduce emotional reactivity and make it easier to manage stress or anxiety when you may have previously reached for the bottle.
Self-Compassion
While mindfulness encourages you to acknowledge and accept your emotions without judgment, self-compassion involves accepting yourself as a person without judgment—imperfections and all. When being mindful, you aren't consumed by regrets about the past or worries about the future.
Awareness of Triggers
Mindfulness helps you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and environmental triggers contributing to your desire to drink. By recognizing these triggers, you can develop healthier coping strategies.
Acceptance of Cravings
Cravings can be a reality of early sobriety. Mindfulness teaches you to notice cravings without judgment. Instead of trying to suppress or ignore cravings, mindfulness encourages you to observe them with curiosity and compassion, allowing them to pass without acting on them. Mindfulness provides tools to cope with cravings in healthier ways, such as through mindfulness meditation, body scans, or other grounding techniques.
Nervous System Regulation
In today's fast-paced world (or as a symptom of unresolved trauma, etc.), many people turn to alcohol as a quick fix to calm their nervous system. However, relying on alcohol in this way can lead to dependence (because alcohol is addictive!) and negative health consequences. Mindfulness offers a healthier alternative by providing practices that help people sustainably regulate their nervous system.
As you can see, mindfulness offers profound benefits in recovery, from easing cravings to enhancing emotional resilience. That's why I integrate it into my 12-week sobriety challenge, promoting a holistic approach to life. In my additional introductory mindfulness course, Zenful Mind, I delve into various areas such as parenting, relationships, hobbies, and eating habits, providing comprehensive guidance on incorporating mindfulness into daily life.
