EXPERIENCING A STATE OF FLOW

What is Mindfulness 2.0?

In today's world we are made to believe that life is overwhelming. However, chaos is an inevitable state that no matter how many things you try to control, it will always show up. Secluding to a calm and quiet space is the current model of mindfulness, however this only promotes the notion that when things get challenging we need to avoid it. Research finds that embracing challenges with proper recovery is the most effective way to stimulate mental growth and develop resilience. Rather than avoid, we educate and consult with all persons on how to lean into the chaos and gather strength to overcome any challenge.

What both high-functioning athletes and expert meditators have in common is an ability to withstand high levels of anxiety while maintaining optimal task performance. Therefore, mindfulness is not about reducing anxiety on the field and in the game. In fact, contrary to popular belief, anxiety can be used to drive optimal performance.

Mindfulness Promotes acceptance and
awareness of one’s internal states, which
in turn, promotes goal-directed action.

To increase athletic performance, mindfulness and acceptance-based practices are an empirically supported intervention (Gardner & Moore, 2012).

NEUROPLASTICITY

Mindfulness has been demonstrated to increase neuroplasticity; that is, changes in the brain’s connections and functionality. Neuroplasticity is involved in learning and memory, crucial to integrating new athletic skills and abilities.

EMOTIONAL RESPONSE

Mindfulness has also been shown to increase one’s capacity to respond to emotions and function in the face of stress and anxiety. For an athlete, this can translate into increasing your capacity to be in control under the pressure of the game and help you perform to the best of your ability.

MENTAL FOCUS

Mindfulness can increase your ability to pay attention to the here-and-now. Or for an athlete, increased attention to what is happening on the field or the court.

MEDITATION

Researchers studied long-term meditators compared to non-meditators. They found that long term meditators had thicker cortical brain tissue. Thicker cortical brain issues is associated with more brain functionality for attention, emotional control, empathy, and learning. This means that the brains of long-term meditators are positively different from non-meditators!

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Moreover in just 8 weeks of mindfulness skill training, researchers found significant and measurable changes in the grey matter of participants’ brains. The areas where the researchers found increased grey matter correlates with areas in the brain responsible for learning and memory, self-awareness, compassion, and introspection. In this same study, decreases in the grey matter of a brain structure known as the amygdala were also found in participants. These changes are associated with an increased ability to manage the impact of stress.

IMPACT

The good news, the more you practice and integrate mindfulness in your life, the greater the impact.