As I began to look at this topic, I saw that there are many articles covering what mindfulness and inner strength is, the benefits of mindfulness enhancing inner strength. I also found some fascinating scientific studies around mindfulness and the inner strength it brings out in you, that I will reference and link in this article for you to explore. So, I have decided to dedicate this article to my version of Inner Strength and Mindfulness, what it has meant to me and tactics that I have used to help myself. Out of that I hope, you may find some benefit, ideas or discover that you already have your own unique form of mindfulness that gives you the inner strength that we all need in this fast paced, high demand world of ours.

I feel that commonly when one thinks about mindfulness, meditation comes to mind, and that is not something I consciously and regularly practice. In fact, I find it quite challenging to do and probably something worth exploring more as the science evidence is strong but is a topic for another time.

That having been said, I am aware that I have still applied the meaning the of mindfulness, from a Google Oxford Dictionary and the Dictionary of Psychology -

“The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.”

“n. awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings.”

There have been numerous times when I have used mindfulness to bring consciousness and awareness to something I am doing or to help get me to focus and out of a stressed mindset. The application of how I have done this just looks different or actions out differently to standardly known meditation practices or within a Psychology setup. It is what I found worked for me in different circumstances with the learnt knowledge and understandings that I had at that time.

I believe we take what we learn and tweak it to suit the way we individually work.

One example that I would like to share with you, that really stands out to me on this subject, was a time in my horse-riding days.

I had a red horse, a Chestnut, called Ginger Queen, she was a feisty, fiery ride. It was our first 1.10m show jumping show and both of us were nervous, for me, nerves tend to put me into a clouded judgment and spaced-out state. Our first round was not a pretty sight, and the mare got us out of a few intense moments of rider error, I am not sure how we came out with a clear round there.

My twin sister had come to watch and as I came out of the arena, I pulled her over intensely stating that I needed to get myself focused and present. At the time the knowledge I had was Scientology based, having grown up with it in the family. I used two techniques that help bring a person back to present time, they call it, the same concept and intention of mindfulness and bringing consciousness and awareness to something. One was called “Reach and Withdraw” and the other a “Locational”.

Reach and withdraw, I chose to help me with Ginger, create contact and get me in sync. With my sister's assisted guidance, I reached my hand to touch Ginger and then Withdrew my hand from her, repeating this several times with my sister acknowledging my actions. It allowed me to become more aware of where I was and then repetitive contact, I felt calmed me and in turn Ginger as well. I felt I could breathe calmly, and my head fog cleared.

The locational process, my sister guided me to look at specific things. She would tell me to look at the red jump, the pink one, the corner of the area, Ginger’s ears, the reins, etc. And this process got me to be more aware of my surroundings and I felt less spaced out.

From these two simple actions that I had available to me at the time, I managed to become more mindful and found my inner strength to win both of my classes.

There has been a lot spoken about how living in survival mode and depending on our Limbic system to dictate our actions, is not a healthy way of living. We are irrational and are driven to either fight, flight, freeze or fawn, they are very reactive responses and cause us to overreact. - Understanding the stress response.

“In mindfulness however, the individual allows the stressful event to remain in the past, and instead focuses on present moment sensations” -

The Mindful Brain and Emotion Regulation.

With the above in mind, I want to go back to my personal example, at the time with Ginger. I actively chose to use mindfulness to help reduce the stress that I was having with being nervous for the first show jumping that height, and even proved to myself how leaving the stressful scary first round in the past and focusing on presenting moment sensations through those two actioned processes, I was able to gain my focus and inner strength again which brought about consecutive winnings.

It became a powerful moment for me because I do struggle with emotional regulation when things go pear shaped, not according to plan, or are just scary moments, and over time I have increased my understanding and tools to be able to identify when I am not in the present moment and what I can do to create more mindfulness.

Mindfulness with my client’s is strongly encouraged, it allows them to become aware and present to muscle imbalances and differences that they feel in their body. It aids in postural analysis and NeauroKinetic Therapy manual muscle testing. Having them contribute and work with me via their own internal awareness, gets us to the bottom of movement dysfunctions and enhances the movement assessment as the client is the one that is going to bring about the biggest pain management, they know their body the best, I am just the facilitator with the skills to help guide and interpret what is going on and implement neuromuscular re-education.

Here is a list of techniques that I use to help myself when I feel it's necessary, I feel different techniques help me at different times and have tended towards more active actioned techniques with the presence of another assisting me, however not always, as I have found some breathing with grounding and sunshine has also done wonders for my mindfulness. I will link each technique with more information or how to pages, so that you can explore or start implementing into your life.

Reach and Withdraw

Locational Process

Trauma Release Exercise (TRE)

The Power of BREATHING Properly and SUNLIGHT | Gary Brecka

Knowing your window of tolerance

The Science of Mindfulness

Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation

My goal for this article is for you to discover and explore that we all have our own unique way of doing things and I don't believe there is a one size fits all approach, there are so many amazing techniques out there and incredible studies. Explore your curiosity and discover what works best for you.

Ayla Caldwell - Motivational Speaker, Posture Therapist, NeuroKinetic Therapist, NKT Therapy Training (South Africa)

info@aylacaldwell.com

Individuality, Empowerment, Self-Healing