Mind… full?
Mindfulness is trendy… there is no doubt about that; but is it worth your time? To “let go” and to “feel your breath”… sounds like a great idea, right?
If you’re into mindfulness, make no mistakes about it; you are not the only one. It’s making its way to public education, healthcare, corporations and even the justice system!
So mindfulness is popular yet, does it work?
In this very article (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1745691617709589) published most recently, psychologists and cognitive scientists warn that proof of the efficacy of mindfulness is actually limited.
It seems that the bulk of the studies on mindfulness often include small sample sizes, lack of control groups, and insufficient use of valid measures.
So what is mindfulness?
It is a type of meditation derived from the Buddhist tradition. It encourages the observation of present thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations in a non-judgmental way.
In recent years, an effort has been made to dissociate the practice from its religious foundation and to promote it in clinical and educational settings.
There has also been an effort to legitimize and secure the future of mindfulness as an academic enterprise. We can attest of this by observing the growth of MA and PhD programs, as well as specific journals, conferences and more that share the common theme of mindfulness.
Is mindfulness harmful? While no one seems to raise that particular concern, while practicing mindfulness and doing no harm, I can’t see why it would not be a great activity to pursue if it makes one feel better!
Then again, it is my understanding that if your prefrontal cortex functions optimally, you just might not feel the need to be mindful because you simply might not be feeling mind full… #foodforthought
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