Considering the extremely busy and hectic lives we lead, it comes as no surprise that we are pulled in a million different directions every day and have a feeling that we’re under constant stress. One way to manage all the pressure we experience is through mindfulness. Mindfulness provides us with the ability to focus on what we’re feeling at the present moment rather than dwelling on the past or imagining and overthinking the future.
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
Jinglow is a customizable mindfulness recording studio that goes with you wherever you go. What makes Jinglow different from all the other mindfulness apps on the market is that the Jinglow app allows you to record your own voice and then pair it with background sounds. Other than being a recording studio for your own positive affirmations, it offers a large variety of guided meditations, body scans, and white noise.
The guided meditations the app provides include breathwork, moving meditations, meditations for processing emotions and progressive relaxation.
The positive affirmations feature helps you fix negative thinking patterns and improves your overall self-esteem. Positive affirmations work in the way that they rewire our brains; they erase a negative scenario and replace it with something positive. If we constantly repeat, “I am going to get a promotion at work,” we focus our mind and alter our behavior accordingly. A 2013 research at the Carnegie Mellon University revealed that affirmations improved problem-solving and creativity in stressed out students.
The app presents a wide range of positive affirmations, for instance: money affirmations, birth affirmations, I can and I will affirmations.
Jinglow has a library of white noise, ambient music and inspirational beats to listen to during meditation or to pair with chosen audio including your own recordings.
The white noise feature can be used to get rid of distractions while studying, working, meditating, reading, or sleeping. White noise functions as a type of anti-noise, it is a special type of sound signal which is used to mask background sounds. Because the sound is steady, it gently captivates our attention without requiring any real focus.
“Winding down with a calming sound can be helpful, but making sure it’s part of a nightly bedtime routine is integral to a good night’s sleep”, says Shalini Paruthi, M.D., a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the director of the Pediatric Sleep and Research Center at Saint Louis University.
Here are some of the benefits of using the Jinglow app:
Reduced stress
Mindfulness can lead to less intense stress responses. This has many health benefits, such as lowering your blood pressure and strengthening your immune system.
Greater confidence
The ability of positive affirmations to program your mind into believing the stated concept is a great way to build your confidence and self-worth.
Better sleep
The white noise machine in the app quiets down the distracting sounds from your environment. It assists your body and mind to relax and prepare for a good night’s sleep.
Better decision-making skills
Before making any decisions, mindful individuals will take time to reflect and listen to their inner voice, evaluating their own values and objectives and therefore making a better decision.
If you want to record your own positive affirmations, here are some tips:
Choose a negative thought and write down the positive aspect
Pick out a negative thought you have, whether it’s negative self-talk or criticism others have made of you. For example, if you think that you are ugly, write down: “I am not satisfied with the way I look. Then, write a counter-argument to it. Instead of replacing the negative thought “I am ugly” with “I am not ugly”, make a stronger statement by saying “I am beautiful”.
Use the first person and write your affirmations in the present tense
Start your affirmations with “I” or “My”, because an affirmation should be about yourself. Write like you’re already experiencing what you desire, for example: “I am positive” is much better than “I will be positive”.
Repeat your affirmation regularly, every day, for at least 5 minutes
Say the affirmation repeatedly. If possible, look at yourself in the mirror and say your affirmation out loud, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. The repetition doesn’t end until the affirmations become your authentic thoughts and your brain no longer disconnects what you are saying and how you see yourself.
This is awesome. I never heard of the jinglow app before but it really sounds cool.