wellbeing,” says Christie. “It seems
finding your values is something that
occurs naturally and is a by-product
of the mindfulness practice,” she
says. Overall the research found that
mindful people experience higher
wellbeing, because it helps you realise
and translate your values into action.
“Mindfulness also gives you the
extra thoughtfulness you need to
remember your values in everyday
situations,” adds Christie. “Life is full
of decisions and when you’re able to
stay true to your inner compass, this
leads to more meaningful outcomes
and to more authentic behaviour.”
Put simply, mindfulness training
seems to increase values-based action,
which in turn is linked to higher
wellbeing and authentic living in the
future. But, what exactly is authentic
living? “Some things just energise
you and you want to act on them
even if no one is watching,” explains
Christie. “When this happens, then
you know you’re acting according to
your authentic self. It gives you a great
sense of vitality and freedom, which
is why, even in hard times when you
act on your values you still experience
this sense of vitality and equally whenyou’re not acting based on your true
values, you feel terrible.”Examine your thoughts
As we continue to practise mindfulness
and its associated meditations, we
become more present and conscious,
which gives a different understanding of
our true selves. Moreover, mindfulness
aids our ability to cultivate more
awareness of our thoughts, which in
turn, helps us discover who we are at our
very core. When we understand that wenaturalhealthmag.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HEALTH | 39