What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness helps you connect with the present moment and observe your thoughts and feelings without getting too caught up in them. Mindfulness is about being present and open.
You may have heard about mindfulness, but it is quite common to have some misconceptions about what it actually is and involves. Today we bust 3 common mindfulness myths.
1. Mindfulness is just meditation
Meditation is only one way to practice mindfulness, so the two aren’t interchangeable. There are so many different ways that you can build mindfulness into your daily life, such as mindful eating, walking etc.
2. Mindfulness is about relaxation 
Mindfulness is something that you can practice in intense or challenging situations, in addition to less stressful ones. Sometimes it is in the moments of feeling angry or anxious that mindfulness can be a very practical tool to use. Mindfully engaging in the present moment can prevent feelings from running wild. The aim of mindfulness is to build our focus and ability to redirect attention, rather than to make us feel relaxed.
3. Mindfulness is about getting rid of negative thoughts
A common mindfulness myth is that it is about getting rid of our negative thoughts, feelings or sensations (such as pain and fatigue) and forcing ourselves to feel positively. However, this is not the goal of mindfulness. Mindfulness is about noticing these things in our lives and building acceptance around them. Allowing space for these things to come and go is a part of practicing mindfulness.
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Although mindfulness is not only about meditation, meditation can be a great way to practice mindfulness. It can also be a great tool in managing chronic pain.
In the My IBD Care and My Arthritis app, you can take a course on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which can be a helpful tool for those looking to learn about using mindfulness to manage pain associated with chronic conditions. Additionally, make sure you check out the Singles section of the apps, in particular the ‘Mindfulness Meditation and Breath’ single.
If you have any questions, please let us know at contact@ampersandhealth.co.uk
Find mindfulness courses and more in the My Arthritis app
As a tool created specifically to help those living with arthritis, our app include a range of features and resources, alongside courses, to help you manage your mental and physical health.
Find tools and resources to improve your IBD
The My IBD Care app was created specifically to help those living with IBD. It includes a range of features, courses and resources, to help you manage your mental and physical health.