Mindfulness and MBSR courses for individuals and organizations
Ilan Oseran, Health Psychologist
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the term used for paying attention on purpose in the present moment without judgement. It is an ability that can be developed through systematic practice and training.
The origins of mindfulness can be traced back to Buddhist meditation. Nowadays, numerous scientific papers have found mindfulness meditation to be effective in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and more. In addition, neurological studies have found that practicing mindfulness can actually change the size and function of specific brain regions. On account of these encouraging findings, more and more organizations and settings are incorporating mindfulness into their practice, such as: hospitals, schools, commercial companies (among them Google and Facebook) and others. In recent years mindfulness meditation is also being used in various psychological therapies (CBT, MBCT, ACT, DBT, and more).
Mindfulness consists of 3 main components:
Paying attention on purpose
In the present moment
Nonjudgementally
Our ability to focus our attention on whatever we choose is the basis of the practice. We can all manage to do this to a certain extent, although this ability is usually limited and underdeveloped. For example, have you ever entered a room and forgot what you wanted to do there in the first place? Or perhaps taken a shower and forgot if you had already shampooed your hair? These are examples of inattention, or mindlessness. Just as our muscles can be strengthened by training at the gym, mindfulness practice can harness and develop our ability to concentrate.
While practicing, we choose to focus our attention on whatever is present here and now, including physical sensations, thoughts and feelings. Most of the day we are usually busy thinking of the past (memories, wanting to have done things differently) or the future (planning, deadlines, worries), and rarely focus on whatever is already present. In this situation, it is very likely that we will rely on automatic ways of thinking and behaving, rather than choosing consciously what is most appropriate for us. Being aware of the present moment allows us more freedom and control as opposed to being on "auto-pilot".
If we begin to pay attention, we can often be surprised at just how judgmental we are about nearly everything, and especially towards ourselves. Judgment is important in daily decision making, yet being overly judgmental can often influence how we feel, both physically and emotionally. Mindfulness practice allows us to be more aware of what is actually happening (both positive and negative, internally and externally) in a clearer way, which increases our ability to accept things just as they are.
