1. Mindfulness is the process of developing an awareness of the present moment.

It can involve practices to sharpen our focus and attention, feeling in-tune with our the body and breath, and foster acceptance of difficult emotions.

Over time, mindfulness gives us an insight into habitual patterns.  It gives us the opportunity to cultivate new, more positive ways of being.

Mindfulness is often conflated with meditation; the former is a state of being, such as being present in the moment, while the latter involves the practice and training of our minds.

2. Meditation as a practice has been around for thousands of years, owing its roots to Buddhism and Hinduism. In recent years, it has evolved and entered mainstream psychotherapy, enjoying a surge of popularity in the West.

Numerous research studies have now demonstrated numerous evidence-backed benefits for mindfulness.

Its myriad of benefits involve: reducing stress, increasing focus, reduced emotional reactivity and improvements in our relationships and ability to connect with others.

3. Mindfulness helps us better connect with our mind, our body, our feelings and with others.

Mindfulness can greatly benefit people who experience minority stress: the type of stresses faced by stigmatised minority groups.

This ranges from institutional biases and discrimination, to internalised shame and identity concealment.

For LGBTQIA+ people (who are 2x as likely to experience anxiety or depression than our straight counterparts), mindfulness can be a useful tool for us to self-regulate in times of stress.

4. Mindfulness can help us cope with feelings of anxiety and stress by helping us observe our thought patterns.

It can help us identify our triggers, and also stop us from getting into negative thought spirals.

For those of us who are struggling to accept our sexual or gender identity, practices like Loving-Kindness can also help us foster self-acceptance and build self-love at our core.
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Voda is currently in Open Beta.

You can gain early access at Voda.co and try our meditations: "Loving-Kindness" and "Nurturing Acceptance".

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