In this edition of the Stress Cops PodCast Radio Show we bring you a quantum-self stress research report about the use of mindfulness for instant stress management and stress reduction. Post surgery cancer patients reported significantly less stress after mindfulness stress management training. Here is how to use this stress reduction method in your own life
A Quantum-Self Stress Research Summary
The term *mindfulness* is rooted deep in the tradition of Buddhism, a philosophy of life dating back thousands of years. Mindfulness refers to a stress free mental state of being totally focused in the present moment.
Now obviously most of us spend little time in such a present-focused mental state. Our life stress constantly pulls our attention into both the past and the future. But there is new evidence that at least trying to spend a little time in a mindful state of mind has some great benefits -- including stress reduction, and possible stress management.
For those who want to learn how to manage stress, this could actually prove to be a very powerful personal tool.
The Research Findings
Two University of Rochester researchers -- Kirk Brown and Richard Ryan -- formally tested the psychological and stress management benefits of mindfulness. They found that people who report being *more mindful* tend to have positive personal traits such as: high self-esteem, high life satisfaction, primarily positive feelings -- and less stress, anxiety and depression.
The researchers then tested whether consciously creating a mindful state will reduce the extreme stress during cancer post-surgery. The researchers trained a group of cancer patients to enter into a low stress mindful state. The post cancer surgery results indicated that the patients trained to become more mindful did indeed report less stress after their surgery.
A Personal Experiment
The results of this study suggest that being more mindful can help reduce even the most intense stress in our lives. Here is a mindfulness experiment you can do:
Settle into a private, comfortable space. Then just allow yourself to focus on what is going on around you right now. This can be as simple as looking around the room and consciously focusing on what your eyes land on -- and listening to the sounds around you. If your thoughts pull off into the past or the future, just gently refocus on the present moment. Do this for at least 5 minutes.
If relaxation is still difficult, you may want to do some mental re-programming to improve how your mind responds to stress. Chronic stress is a mental habit. And like any other habit, it will only go away if replaced with other behavior patterns.
Over thirty years of research have proven that brainwave training is the fastest instant stress reducer. Instant stress management is great. But a regime of alpha/theta (A-T) brainwave training has an even bigger payback -- it trains your brain to easily order your mind and body to relax on its own, and makes you far more creative.
The Research: Brown, Kirk, W., & Ryan, Richard, M. The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. J. Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 822-848.
By Dr Jill Ammon-Wexler
© 2005 All Rights Reserved
The author, Stress Cop Dr. Jill Ammon-Wexler, is a pioneer brain/mind researcher, doctor of psychology, author, life adventurer, and international executive advisor. You will find more of her stress management and stress reduction articles at Quantum-Self.com -- the Self Discovery Community, and in the Quantum Brain Gym -- the first online brain gym and brainwave training center.
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