MINDFULNESS

So, this is my first blog and I chose mindfulness as my first topic. I chose mindfulness is because it is now a mainstream therapeutic approach in clinical psychology, used by many therapists and for many types of psychological difficulties.  

Here in NB, in Dieppe, Moncton and Fredericton, there are many therapists who are avid and competent practitioners of this approach, incorporated in CBT practices such as the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Yet, mindfulness is not widely known by the public and there are some misconceptions about it. I will endeavour to shed a little bit of light on this topic.

Is mindfulness the new science of health and happiness?

Mindfulness is a concept borrowed from the Buddhist tradition and philosophy.  Dr. Marsha Linehan is one of the first clinician incorporating mindful practices and exercises in her Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) in the late 1980’s but mindfulness practices in mainstream medical and psychological fields were already introduced in 1979 by Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn.

Note that although inspired by spiritual teachings, mindfulness, as applied in psychological and medical treatment, is completely secular and devoid of any religious or spiritual teaching.

There are many different theoretical accounts of mindfulness but I especially like this one from Jon Kabat Zinn:

“Paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally.”

Evidence-based treatment for anxiety and depression.

In 1979, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the University of Massachusetts to treat the chronically ill. This program sparked the application of mindfulness ideas and practices in Medicine for the treatment of a variety of conditions in both healthy and unhealthy people. MBSR and similar programs are now widely applied in schools, prisons, hospitals, veterans’ centers, and other environments.

Is mindfulness an attitude about life?

Mindfulness is gaining a growing popularity as a practice in daily life.  Mindfulness may be seen as a mode of being and can be practiced outside a formal setting.  

In fact, I often speak of “two paths” to integrate mindfulness into your life.  One path is to incorporate a regular meditative practice in your daily routine;  that is what I referred to as “formal” mindful practices.  And then there is the “informal” mindful living, which essentially is paying attention to the here and now.   Although this is a simple concept, it is by no mean an easy concept to apply in daily life.  Regular mindful practices, coaching, and training help to master this concept, “one bite at a time”.

In a sense, mindfulness and the science behind it, are highlighting a simple but difficult challenge of our modern times; put down your juggling balls for a little while and rediscover and embrace the “beauty of monotasking”.  

Once in a while, absorb yourself, immerse yourself completely in something you are doing.  It may be as simple as playing with a dog or eating something yummy, or taking a 10-minute walk where you focus on your senses, not what you will do when you get back … It is a mindful state when you focus on your senses, what you are seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting.  

It is a little bit like high pace sports (hockey, gymnastics, football) where you get absorbed completely in the moment, you are in the “zone”.  Nothing exists but the puck you are chasing or the way your body is moving in space.  In those times, there is no anxiety.  Only alertness, a highly focused state of attention where all your senses are engaged.  No time then to obsess about certain thoughts or to get lost in the analysis of second-guessing yourself …

A final thought about mindfulness, this is a marathon, not a sprint.  When it comes to mindfulness, consistency in practice matters more than an all-out effort that drifts off after a few weeks.  Much like many other healthy habits, right?  Mindfulness is a tool to “slow down the hamster in the cage” and it is most effective when it is part of daily routine and, literally, a mindset, and attitude about life.  One of Jon Kabat Zinn’s best selling books illustrates this well in its title; “Wherever you go, there you are …”

I hope this was useful to inform you on what is mindfulness and that this brief blog on a vast subject, will motivate you to research mindfulness on your own and to apply it in your life to improve mental health and well being.

Best regards!

Bernard