A Basic Definition of Mindfulness
When you hear the term “mindfulness”, what comes up for you?
Maybe it’s a Tibetan monk partaking in a concentrated meditation in a mountainside monastery…
...or it’s a devoted yoga student in the process of obtaining her RYT 500-hour yoga teacher training.
But what if mindfulness could be more simple-- more routine-- than that? Whatever you’re currently thinking about mindfulness, let’s pause and refocus, shall we?
Blanton defines mindfulness as “awareness of the present experience with acceptance.”
Lipsky and Burk define mindfulness as “being alert to [one’s] sensations in the present moment and extending to a larger awareness of what [one] is doing in [their] life.”
In a world full of instantaneous reactions and immediate results, it can be difficult to slow down and focus on the process itself. After all, the American way consistently tells us to speed up and look forward in order to achieve, achieve, achieve!
But what if… achieving wasn’t the most important thing?
What if listening to our thoughts instead of our to-do list could lead us to a more fulfilling lifestyle-- one in which we are actively participating and taking the time to truly savor each and every moment.
According to the Harvard Gazette, “mindfulness’ popularity has been bolstered by a growing body of research showing that it reduces stress and anxiety, improves attention and memory, and promotes self-regulation and empathy.”
Lazar found that “mindfulness meditation can change the brain’s gray matter and brain regions linked with memory, the sense of self, and regulation of emotions.”
Greater Good notes that “more mindful people have a stronger sense of self and seem to act more in line with their values. They may also have a healthier body image, more secure self-esteem, and more resilience to negative feedback.”
So… what’s stopping you from looking into the practice of mindfulness?
If you’re interested in learning more, check out the links below
Our program, regulate + restore is opening for sign ups next week! We talk about practical ways to build mindfulness into your daily life.
Jon Kabat-Zinn’s presentation on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.