It seems that wherever you turn these days, whether in health and wellness, counseling, energy, healing or personal growth, the concept of mindfulness is present. Is this just a fad? Or maybe a bandwagon effect? Or is there something about the practice of mindfulness that applies across a broad spectrum of self-growth practices? I contend that mindfulness is an essential component for growth, learning and change.
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Professor of Medicine Emeritus and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, has the most straightforward definition of mindfulness I have seen: Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.
This type of attentional awareness allows us to see things more as they are instead of through our judgmental filter, which in turn allows us to focus on that which truly will bring change, growth and learning.
One of the most basic of mindfulness practices is also one of the most broadly useful: mindful breathing. All that is entailed is to pay attention to the flow of breath, inhalation, and exhalation; simple, sustained attention. I can hear you now, "what if my attention wanders, to something else or other thoughts?" Then, when you notice your attention has shifted away from your breath, you simply acknowledge the fact to yourself kindly, and again intentionally move your attention back to your breath; inhalation, exhalation. This is called mindful breathing practice because the more you practice, as with any skill, the better you become at placing your attention intentionally where you want. And there you have basic, simple mindfulness.
