About mindfulness
Mindfulness is a therapeutic approach based on focusing attention on the present moment, without judgment, and with full awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. In other words, mindfulness means being fully present in the present moment. This technique has its roots in Buddhist meditation, but has been modernized for use in therapy and everyday life. One of the pioneers of mindfulness in Western psychology is Jon Kabat-Zinn, who developed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in the late 1970s, designed to manage stress and improve quality of life.
Why is mindfulness effective? Have you noticed that most of what bothers us (in a psychological sense) is not happening right now? We may experience unpleasant emotions because of a traumatic event - but that event is actually in the past and not happening now. We may fear an outcome - but that event is in the future and also not happening now. The point of mindfulness can be reduced to a short movie quote: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift - that's why it's called 'present'." In other words, there is only now, only this moment, and by our focus on the past and future, we waste the potential to make this very moment pleasant, special or even unrepeatable, creating from it an important resource for the future.
Mindfulness has been shown to be effective in reducing stress, anxiety, depression and chronic pain. As part of mindfulness training, the client learns to recognize and accept his thoughts and feelings as they come, without impulsive evaluation and reaction, which can lead to an increase in emotional stability and greater resistance to stress.
Scientific research supports the benefits of mindfulness for mental health, including reducing symptoms of depression and increasing emotional regulation. You can learn more about them at the following links:
