What is Mindfulness

In the space of one breathe, everything can change

Mindfulness is understood as the moment-by-moment awareness of all experience without judgement. In general, research suggests that the regular integration of mindful awareness in our daily lives can reduce psychological distress and improve overall well-being. Specific benefits include: stress reduction, reduced rumination, improved working memory and focus, reduced emotional reactivity, improved relationship satisfaction, and greater cognitive flexibility.

Since its inception in 1979 at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, mindfulness programs have grown and are now flourishing as some of the most sought-after interventions from among what is known as "third wave" psychotherapy. While initially developed to help individuals better manage stress and reduce stress-related symptoms and disorders, benefits have been clearly demonstrated in individuals seeking relief from anxiety and mood disorders, chronic pain, eating disorders, cancer, anger problems, and relationship quality. Possible benefits for other problems are also under investigation. To hear a short explanation, please watch this excellent video by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Some Mindful Moments

The following are a few mindful meditation recordings I made and am providing for your personal exploration. They are divided according to themes. Within the categories you will find one or more related meditations of lengths varying from 3 to 45 minutes. Dive in with an open mind and heart and remember one of the most fundamental foundations of mindfulness - non-judgment. Nonjudgment is extremely difficult for us human beings. We have a built-in 'negativity bias' and are constantly chattering away in our minds, evaluating, commentating, and wandering off task. We get lost in our internal monologues (or dialogues!) with ourselves, often believing that our stories are true. There is usually some truth mixed in with a lot of fear-driven embellishment. Mindfulness aims to help us realize when we are in this automatic default mode and help us come back to the things that matter - the here and now.

Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.

In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

∼ Viktor E. Frankl ∼