There is beauty in each moment of our lives, but often we're too distracted to notice it. Instead, we spend much of our time worrying about the future or regretting the past, and this habit can have negative consequences for our mental and physical health.
That's why many people today are turning to the practice of mindfulness(正念减压法). Simply put, mindfulness means focusing on the present moment. Let's say you're sitting in traffic after a long day's work. Rather than dwelling on(老是想着)an unpleasant incident that occurred earlier or worrying about your schedule for the next day, you might direct your attention to the sound of the rain drops battering the windshield or to a specific image before you. By directing your attention to the here and now, you automatically shift your focus away from self-image, success, and other stress-inducing concerns.
Such a shift in consciousness helps us form more meaningful connections with others and handle problems with greater ease. It also lets us appreciate life's many little pleasures. So, it's not surprising that mindfulness has been found to help in the treatment of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and even physical problems related to stress, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and upset stomachs.
How do you practice mindfulness? While it's often associated with meditation, you don't actually need to be in a particular place or position to cultivate it. In fact, it can be incorporated(使并入)into almost any daily activity, including eating, walking, showering, or doing the dishes. Let's take this last activity as an illustration:
Begin by bringing your attention to your breath. Inhale(吸入)through your nose allowing the air to expand your belly, and exhale through your mouth. Notice the sensations as each breath goes in and out.
As you engage in the task of washing the dishes, direct your awareness to the scent of the soap, the sound of the running water, and the feel of the suds(肥皂泡沫)between your fingers. Simply be aware of these and any other immediate sensations without forming any judgments about them.
At times, this process may not be relaxing, especially when what you're doing is boring or unpleasant. Nevertheless, by practicing mindfulness, we can learn to accept whatever situations life brings us and, over time develop greater happiness.
1.Why is the example of “sitting in traffic” mentioned in Paragraph 2?
A.To appreciate beauty at the present moment.
B.To explain the meaning of mindfulness.
C.To describe the traffic accident in the street.
D.To attract the reader's attention to the traffic.
2.Which of the following is the benefit of mindfulness?
A.Finding out problems in study more easily.
B.Helping cure diseases like high blood pressure.
C.Allowing us to enjoy small pleasures in life.
D.Making friends with other people in the traffic.
3.From the passage, mindfulness can be practised by_____________.
A.finding a particular place to cultivate it
B.bringing our attention to our breath
C.burying ourselves in washing the dishes
D.putting it to use in our everyday life
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.The reasons why people begin to practise mindfulness.
B.The differences between mindfulness and meditation.
C.The benefits of mindfulness and the way to practice it.
D.The ways we should keep healthy mentally and physically.