When we focus only on healing ourselves and finding peace of mind, we can forget that we are still here to help others.

Is abusing something good a bad thing? Recent research by psychologists and universities is showing an increase in selfishness, a negative side effect of the mindfulness practice. But when the whole world is now promoting wellness, happiness and mindfulness practices, you'll wonder how and why we can go wrong. That's because when we focus only on healing ourselves and finding peace of mind, we can forget that we're still here to help others.
Before exploring research on how mindfulness can create a little selfishness in us, it's important to understand what mindfulness is, how to do it, and the positive benefits the practice has to offer.
In a nutshell, mindfulness is an ancient practice that goes back thousands of years with links to Buddhism, and today you'll hear more or less the word yoga, meditation, and the purpose of life. Life is like meditation. According to the founder of the modern Western school of mindfulness, Job Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness is a state of awarness, arising from purposeful attention focused on the present and non-judgment.

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When we practice mindfulness, be it in the form of meditation, or slowing down to enjoy what you are eating, being fully present in the moment, they bring a host of mental benefits. Physical and mental. These include:
1. Reduced stress and anxiety levels, increased awareness, attention and concentration. It lowers blood pressure, heart rate while increasing immune function and brain activity. It helps us to be more discerning when thinking and making decisions, and makes us feel inner calm.
2. Enhanced immunity to disease and self-healing - studies show that people who practice mindfulness can recover from medical procedures faster than those who don't.
3. Reduces the symptoms of depression and increases sense of self-worth and care and love for yourself. For children, increased mindfulness can support mental resilience, helping to regulate emotions, mood, empathy, confidence and seld-esteem.
Studies show that children who practice mindfulness have a direct correlation with improved school preformance and the ability to handle stress, and similarly in the workplace for adults, it increases productivity and promotes reciprocal behaviours.

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Where will the mistake lie?

Over the past decade, the multi-billion dollar healthcare industry has taken long-standing traditions like meditation and brought them into modern context by making them more relevant. But slowing down and a deep sense of self has led to a generation of people who are focused on themselves and rarely interact, help others or want to be a part of a group.
For those who like to interact, mindfulness can make you more aware of other people, their feelings, and also how you react and behave. For more independent individuals, however, increasing mindfulness practice reduces their ability to connect socially and to reach out, help, and support others.
According to a research paper conducted by the University of Buffalo, cultural background also plays a part in determining what fundamentalist you are. In the East, community and society and the importance of &ldquo;us&rdquo; are much greater than in the West, where the &ldquo;individual&rdquo; plays a more important role than the community as a whole.

How to be mindful without being selfish?

To derive the benefits of mindfulness, you need to ask yourself if you are more interactive or independent. According to studies, if your personality is already leaning towards being self-centered, practicing mindfulness will make you more selfish. If you are a friendly and social person, there is less chance that you will naturally become selfish. We need to know the positive benefits to practicing traditions like meditation and mindfulness to find positivity, resilience, and mental control. In a way, it&#39;s a simple health booster. Current studies have presented scientific results and we are fortunate to be able to access and benefit from them. Just be careful not to overdo it and lose sight of simple human acts of kindness towards others, and not just thinking for yourself.

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Tips for practicing mindfulness

1. Commit to practicing meditation for a few minutes every day. Start with one minute and work your way up. Find a spot where you can sit comfortably without distractions and listen to a guided meditation or meditation music to relax your mind and recharge. 2. Feeling every moment fully is a great way to bring attention to what you&#39;re doing. You should drink your first glass of water with focus, giving yourself some time to enjoy the taste and feel of you. 3. End the day with a relaxing shower or soak in the tub, enjoying the warm water and wonderful scent of the soap, or simply having clean and refreshed skin. And the fact that many people still do not have clean drinking water, this activity also shows how lucky you really are.

Mindfulness and Selfishness. 5 Signs That you are Abusing your Mindfulness Practice

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