Well…yeah. It’s a word. And there’s buzz about it. You see it on magazine covers, talking about the mindfulness revolution, mindfulness in the workplace, mindfulness in school. There are books ranging from using mindfulness to deal with depression and anxiety, to being mindful while eating. It seems like anything can be done mindfully. But does this mean the practice is something to be brushed off as “just another buzzword?” I don’t think so.
The practice of mindfulness has been around for centuries and is rooted in Buddhist tradition, though the word itself is newer. There are countless definitions for what it is, with common themes of awareness and attention to the present moment, observation of our physical, mental and emotional experiences in our environment, and compassion or nonjudgment of these observations. Simple! But maybe not easy.
The rise of mindfulness in the mainstream seems to coincide with a world that is increasingly distracting and inattentive.
With our smartphones and social media, our world is quick, connected, and largely concerned with social capital and public perception. Slowing down and disconnecting, even for a short period, seems impossible to so many people. We even have a word for it now – FOMO anyone!? And this is exactly why we can't brush it off. We need it.
Mindfulness is the human response to a loss of attentiveness and care for ourselves that we’ve been experiencing for years.
Its popularity says to me that there is a desire to bring balance and wellness back into our lives. It’s helping us realize that it’s OK to unplug for a minute, to stop focusing outward, and to turn that attention and compassion inward. It wants us to come back to ourselves, in this very moment. To recenter, refocus, relax.
All of this is why it's not always easy. It is a practice, that we can get better at. In part two of this topic, I’ll get into some of the ways mindfulness benefits us, and some tips on how you can start practicing mindfulness as part of your daily life.
Do you have a hard time hitting pause and want some guidance on developing your mindfulness skills? Your counselor's office is a great place to unplug and focus inward.
Kathleen is a mental health professional in St. Louis, MO. She specializes in the treatment of depression and anxiety in adults, college students, and high school students. You can contact her office by phone: 314-499-2994, or email: kathleen@newleafstl.com.