Resilience: A Benefit of a Mindfulness Practice

Posted on February 07, 2017 by Catherine Oliphant, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

Resilience is not only an amazing ability, but it is vital to overcome adversity. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines resilience as, “An ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.” We have all experienced suffering, and we will all at some point, experience it, again. However, there is a light to cast on this sad state of affairs. We can all improve our resilience through practicing mindfulness, on a daily basis. It doesn’t happen overnight, but studies have proven that it works, extremely well. I am proof that a person can overcome devastating set-backs and thrive. Prior to meditating and practicing mindfulness, I lived in a thick fog of depression. It overtook me and I didn’t find a lot of pleasure in life.

I have been practicing meditation for several years and I have noticed that when I am sad or really struggling with something, I am quicker to recover than before I started my practice. In fact, I’m much quicker. I used to wallow in misery for days, now, depending on what the problem is, I can use meditation techniques and separate from it, sometimes in minutes, sometimes in a few hours. If the pain is intense, I can feel the depth of the sadness, as a compassionate observer. Through this unusual process, I allow myself to experience all the feelings without judgment and it allows me to have peace, at the same time. This separation, also, helps dissolve the intense pain, eventually. It doesn’t erase it. I still have pain that I deal with and will always be there, but there is now a peace that is undefinable.

When we practice mindfulness, physiological processes, in the brain, are reorganizing and developing new patterns. This process is called neuroplasticity. Every time we catch our mind wandering in meditation and bring it back to our current awareness, we are establishing synchronicity in the brain. It is not necessary to experience “no thought” like some people think is required in meditation. Not only is “no thought” difficult for a veteran meditator, it is not necessary for effectiveness. Our thoughts are part of the process of our learning. Depending on the type of meditation, you can either focus on the thought and try to learn what is underneath, or watch it pass. Either way, it takes concentration to observe and learn from these thoughts as a compassionate observer.

I challenge you, today, to practice mindfulness and meditation. If you are new to this practice, start small. Practice the following exercise: set aside three times per day, the same time each day and ask yourself, “What is alive in me, at this moment?” Before or after meals can be a good time for this exercise. You may experience anger, fear, curiosity, compassion, excitement, a thought, a dream, worry, or many other physical sensations. They are all okay, and they are all helpful to look at.

Make a point to be a compassionate observer and make no judgments. You will only be observing and not reacting to any thoughts or feelings. If you can’t figure out what you’re thinking or feeling, do a body scan and figure out what sensations you’re experiencing. Our sensations, feelings, and thoughts, are tied together. Do this every day and write down these observations for a week. At the end of the week, look at your notes and write down what you’ve learned. Also, reflect on how more readily you are getting in touch with yourself. Notice what affect this has on your relationships. For, the more we get in touch with ourselves, the more connected we are with other people.
In order for you to notice big changes, this practice will need to be part of your daily life. Keep practicing, consistently, it is worth it and you are worth it!

I’m cheering for you to re-train your mind,

Catherine
Spiritual Life Coach
Facebook: Just Flow Spiritual Life Coaching
cloliphant@yahoo.com