Introduction to Mindfulness

‘Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally’ (Jon Kabat - Zinn, 1994:4)

In our day to day lives, life is busy. 

We may be worrying about the future, or worrying about the past.

We miss so much of our lives because we are lost in our thoughts. 

We miss so much of what is happening in our lives!

Research shows that we can miss 50% of real experience.

Practising mindfulness brings us into the PRESENT MOMENT. In our bodies. In our minds.

Mindfulness:

Focusing attention to internal and external experience in the PRESENT MOMENT, with INTENTION and WITHOUT judgement.

When our minds are in PRESENT-CENTRED MODE, research shows:

  • Less stress

  • More happiness

  • More appreciation

  • Increased creativity

Embodied Mindfulness

Mindfulness sounds like it is all about the mind, but in fact the body is really important in mindfulness.

When we pay mindful attention to the body our minds and bodies become more synchronised.

Clinical psychologist Bassam Khoury and his research team found that ‘present moment awareness’ was central to all the approaches of mindfulness they surveyed, and that the body was primary in such awareness. 

Embodied Mindfulness -’a two-way reciprocal relationship between the brain and the body'

(Khoury et al, 2023: 459)

Next

Acceptance