Mindfulness

 Mindfulness is "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally." (Jon Kabat Zinn)

Mindfulness is how you might treat a beloved friend who is pouring her/his heart out to you...by listening, observing, and eliminating judgment of those observations.  By first noticing what is going on inside of us (without judgment!), we can then begin to shift our minds into healthier patterns of thought.

Within the teachings of Mindfulness, there are two important concepts: Equanimity and Impermanence. 

Equanimity

Perhaps best described as a neutral response to something we experience, an equanimous state of awareness has neither an aversion for unpleasant experiences nor craving for pleasant ones.  Other ways of describing equanimity are balance, calmness, and composure.  The development of equanimity, or the equanimous mind, is an important part of mindfulness skills.  Practicing neutrality in observations of our thoughts and feelings, gives us the ability to remain less reactive and less judgmental no matter what we are experiencing. The equanimous state of mind gives us a feeling of ease, self-control and composure in our every day lives. 

Impermanence

Mindfulness training teaches us the omnipresent reality of impermanence, the changing nature of all things, including our personal mental and emotional experiences.  By accepting and experiencing the changing nature of our internal experiences, we learn to see and treat ourselves in a more flexible and objective manner.   Through this understanding of impermanence, we can learn to detach ourselves from rigid views and habits that lead to stress and unhappiness.

How does Mindfulness fit into therapy?

A mindful approach in psychotherapy can help clients notice and appreciate each moment as it happens, to regulate emotion, and to expand awareness.  The mindfulness-based approach helps an individual reduce anxiety and depression, to become more interpersonally effective, and to reduce the impact of stress.  The careful observation of thoughts, emotions, behaviors and physical sensations helps to move the brain towards new, preferred patterns of thought and behavior.  Mindfulness skills have been effective in alleviating suffering and lessening the sting of life's difficulties, especially those that might be self-imposed.  As technology continues to increase and drive our day to day lives, it is important to have the skills to self-connect, to understand our internal dialogue, and process how that dialogue drives our emotions and behaviors.

Words for thought....

Turning toward a problem and actively paying attention to its presence in your life, rather than turning away and denying the problem exists, helps you develop a relationship with the problem and increases a feeling of effectiveness and possibility that a problem can change or be resolved.