Mindfulness
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Solid scientific evidence shows that mindfulness practice improves attention, self-control, emotional resilience, recovery from addiction, memory, immune response, and more. This summarizes benefits that are particularly relevant to educators; these are fundamental human abilities that when fostered through mindfulness practice will contribute to greater well-being in our school communities.
Manage Stress & Anxiety
Mindfulness practice can help you notice the impact of toxic stress and anxiety and develop the skills to more effectively transform stressful situations.
Strengthen Cognitive Health & Attention
Mindfulness contributes to greater clarity in executive choice, decision-making, and healthy cognitive functioning. It strengthens our “mental muscle” for bringing focus back where we want it, when we want it.
Model Compassion & Kindness
As you mindfulness practice deepens, you will develop a stronger capacity for self-care and self-compassion and ability to nurture, comfort, as well as heal yourself and help others.
Cultivate Awareness & Balance
Mindfulness gives us the skills to be present with our emotions, especially the difficult ones. Mindfulness practice can help reduce the intensity and impact of our emotions; allowing for new possibilities and patterns.
Foster Empathy & Connection
Mindfulness practice is a powerful way to develop a deeper sense of connection with both ourselves and others. Building our capacity for empathy supports effective communication, collaboration and leadership.
Grow Resilience
Mindfulness enhances our ability to be patient, flexible, and balanced while also help us cope with adversity. Our ability to cultivate positive states – calm, relaxation, and peace – builds our inner strength to take on the daily challenges.
Mindfulness Develops Our Brains
1. The amygdala is activated when detecting and reacting to emotions including difficult or strong emotions such as fear. Following sessions of mindfulness training, this part of the brain may be less activated.
2. The hippocampus is critical to learning and memory and helps regulate the amygdala. The hippocampus is more activated and produces more gray matter density following mindfulness training.
3. The prefrontal cortex is most associated with maturity, including regulating emotions and behaviors and making wise decisions. This part of the brain is more activated and developed following mindfulness training.
Retrieved from: https://www.mindfulschools.org/about-mindfulness/why-is-mindfulness-needed-in-education/