Chicago Mindful Psychotherapy and Andersonville Psychology are now
Andersonville Mindfulness & Psychology
March 2, 2023
I’ve spent a surprising amount of time trying to find ways to avoid using the word “mindfulness,” which is a strange and difficult position to be in as I am the owner of a practice with the word in its name. Many of the clinicians I work with who incorporate mindfulness into their personal lives and clinical work have shared that they face a similar dilemma. I wanted to write a bit about that dilemma and hopefully change the perception some folks have about mindfulness.
In recent years, mindfulness has become a buzzword in the world of self-improvement and mental health. From corporate wellness programs to self-help books, mindfulness is touted as a solution to everything from stress to anxiety to depression. While there is no doubt that mindfulness can be a powerful tool for improving mental and emotional well-being, the buzz around mindfulness can also be a distraction from what mindfulness is really about: learning to be present and compassionate with oneself and others.
The marketing of mindfulness has been targeted, as marketing often is, toward specific people. Specifically, mindfulness has come to be considered something that wealthy white people can pursue. This has left a lot of people out of the conversation and likely made many less willing to consider or explore it. Additionally, the focus on acceptance of the present moment has been misconstrued to mean that injustice, inequality, and other social ills simply need to be accepted and that no efforts should be made to make change. This can be a turn-off for socially conscious people and activists. In reality, applying mindful acceptance to these problems does not mean accepting them as unchangeable. It actually means accepting that the problems exist, which is a necessary starting point for any efforts to make change.
People are often turned off by the word itself because of how it is used and the associations that come along with it. As a non-religious person, I have had some people express surprise that I am interested in mindfulness. People often hear the word and think it is associated exclusively with spirituality of some sort. In reality, while mindfulness is key to some belief systems, such as Buddhism, it is a skill that each of us has. It can be strengthened in each of us and it can be weakened in each of us.
So, what is mindfulness? At its core, mindfulness is a practice of paying attention to the present moment with an open and non-judgmental attitude. It is about being aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and sensations without getting caught up in them or reacting to them. Mindfulness can be practiced through meditation, breathing exercises, and other techniques.
While the buzz around mindfulness has helped to bring attention to the practice, it has also created some misconceptions about what mindfulness is and how it works. Here are some common misunderstandings about mindfulness:
To truly learn and practice mindfulness, it is important to move beyond the buzz and hype around the practice. Here are some tips for learning and practicing mindfulness:
While mindfulness has become a buzzword, it is important to move beyond the hype if you want to enjoy some of its benefits. By educating oneself, practicing regularly, focusing on the present moment, practicing self-compassion, and seeking support, you can improve upon the already existent skill to experience the benefits of mindfulness. It is not a quick fix or a magic cure-all, but with patience and practice, it can be a powerful tool for improving well-being and effectively addressing problems large and small.
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