Mindfulness
Though mindfulness has been around for thousands of years, it's becoming increasingly popular and accepted in the modern world.
Its effects are far reaching and while in the west it might seem like the new kid on the block, mindfulness has already affected millions, if not billions, of lives around the globe.
While mindfulness has been a core practice throughout 2,500 years of Buddhism, it was already one of the many practices in earlier Hinduism. Many other world religions also have similar practices, though their mindfulness might have different names. There are as many different ways to practice mindfulness as there are cultures.
Mindfulness has reached beyond the many different belief systems, it's now also firmly part of the modern non-religious world.
Today, mindfulness has become a popular non-religious activity and there are many situations where it can be applied. Personally, in schools, in organisations and even in businesses and companies.
Ultimately though the different approaches seem to point to the same simple truths, and mindfulness involves three essential aspects:
Awareness: Focusing the mind on one thing.
Being fully present in the moment: Eliminating distractions and opening up all the senses to the subject being considered.
Non-judgement and Compassion: Observing what is actually there without letting the mind give it a value. Allowing what arises not to have a negative effect on the mind. So, observing what is true, not what is opinion.
Mindfulness is not really a specific practise but more a way of thinking, applying the mind to what's happening in the present moment.
Mindfulness isn't just sitting on a cushion and meditating like a monk, which is often how it's portrayed. For anyone, with a little practice and experience, mindfulness can be applied to ordinary everyday activities, even just waiting in a queue or walking along. It's available for any person who thinks it could help them.
Through our ever expanding research in psychology supported by neuroscience, we can understand much more of the underlying science of mindfulness and how it works. We can also prove that mindfulness is beneficial and explore many new ways of using this age-old skill.
Mindfulness can be applied to aid mental health, to reduce stress and anxiety. It can be an education to help people young and old to navigate their lives while being more in harmony with its events and challenges.
Mindfulness is not really a specific practise but more a way of thinking, applying the mind to what's happening in the present moment. It can be part of normal daily life without taking extra time.
In today's world
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Enough space if you've tried mindfulness before.
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