Mindfulness : The Practice Of Mindfulness

Based on the evidence, mindfulness could be expanded to be included in teaching individuals not only intrapersonal skills but also the

Mindfulness awareness has only been paid attention to with detail in the past few decades, even though this concept has been rigorously practiced in certain parts, religions, and in different philosophies of the world for thousands of years. In its naked form, mindfulness is second-to-second awareness of the present moment that is non-judgmental, cultivated by simply saying “hello” to the aspects of life we usually innocently overlook (Kabat-Zinn, 2013). In the words of Kabat-Zinn, “An operational working definition of mindfulness is: the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (Kabat-Zinn, 2003, pp. 145-146). Mindfulness awareness isn’t living for the moment (that would be hedonistic). Mindfulness awareness is living in the moment, and the moment has many personal and therapeutic benefits.

Mental health is all about emotions, psychological and social well-being. It can affect an individual to think,feel and act. Mental health helps to determine how we handle stress, communicate with other people and make decisions.

Mindfulness is an act of learning to direct one 's attention to their experience as they unfolds moment by moment, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Katherin (2012) states that mindfulness trains us to respond skilfully to whatever is happening at that moment, be it good or bad, rather than worrying about what has happened or might happen. Studies of brain imaging have shown that the structures and function of the brain is reliably and profoundly altered to improve the quality of both feeling and thought by mindfulness practice.

Mindfulness is an incredible skill, it is a practice that is taking the world by storm and helping more and more people live in their present.

Mindfulness is another way of meditation. Meditation was used to seek to improve one’s psychological or physical health, or spiritual growth. (Brantley, 2007). The history of Mindfulness comes from Buddhism and his search for enlightenment and a foundation of the four noble truths. The Buddha teaching focus on the four noble truths which consist of knowing suffering exists, there is a cause of suffering, there is cessation of suffering and there is a path that leads to the cessation of suffering. (Van Gordon, 2015). The four noble truths were not only there to represent the Buddha’s experiential understanding of suffering, but also to express the truth (Van Gordon, 2015). Studies of Buddhism and the Four Noble Truths teach us that there is always going to be suffering in our life but to find ways to overcome suffering (Tsering, 2005).

The principle of mindfulness is based on Zen Buddhism which can be problematic when mindfulness and acceptable are not based on Biblical truth (Tan, 2011, p. 247). Mindfulness principle is emerged from spirituality and religious beliefs and involves self-regulation of attention and adopting a particular orientation to event around an individual. Self-regulation is done through maintaining attention on the immediate experience which allows for an increased recognition of mental events in the present moment (Tan, 2011, p. 243).

Mindfulness skills have their earliest roots in Eastern practices and pay homage to Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation techniques. These techniques teach people how to calmly and peacefully accept whatever happens to them with minimal emotional reactions, no matter what is happening or how severe the crisis.

Mindfulness has slowly crept into modern day America and has become commonly thought as unattached from its Buddhist origin. In order to attract customers and adherents, writers and teachers of mindfulness separated it from Buddhism. Secular practitioners still benefit from mindfulness, not as a religious meditative ritual, but as a concentration and thinking technique that can improve their wellbeing and efficiency. Even if mindfulness is used as an improved thinking tool and health practice, it remains linked to the Buddhist religion and ideals, and a clear ignorance of that relationship is wrong no matter the benefits. The appropriation of mindfulness into secular America also definitely waters down core Buddhist principles such as the

Mindfulness is an abstract concept that can take on many different meanings to individual people. This form of self care is when one is mentally aware of the present or accepting of the moment. Many benefits come with practicing mindfulness, which is why all people should try to understand its importance.

This particular mindfulness exercise involves ten minutes that requires the participant to sit and concentrate in their breathing. As for the effectiveness of MBTI, a study provides evidence that people experiencing a current depressive episode can benefit from MBCT despite the negative thoughts and feelings associated with depression (Clara Strauss, Kate Cavanagh, Annie Oliver and Danelle Petteman, 2014). I plan to implement the intervention every day for three weeks and listen to the guide provided by Kayleigh Pleas, MAPP, a wellness & positive psychology coach who leads the mindfulness meditation group at the Ruttenberg treatment

Although the treatment method may not be the predominant driver of successful helping, it is still of significant importance (Egan, 2014). Given the client presented with self-defeating thoughts, one might assume that cognitive-based interventions such as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT; Beck, Emery & Greenberg, 1985) would be the most efficacious as this attempts to deal directly with changing negative cognitions. However, some have likened this cognitive restructuring to thought suppression, associated with subsequent, unsolicited revival of those suppressed thoughts (Hayes, Strosahl & Wilson, 1999). Furthermore, Eifert and Forsyth (2005) assert that this ruminative cycle is maintained through fixating on those thoughts. This is in favour of the concept that mindfulness and acceptance may constitute a more effective way of reducing negative thoughts than cognitive restructuring (Niles et al., 2014). Moreover, research suggests mindfulness-based approaches may be effective in helping clients to improve interpersonal skills (Dekeyser, Raes, Leijssen, Leysen & Dewulf, 2007). Thus, it appears that a mindfulness-based approach such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; Hayes et al.,1999) seems applicable given the client’s negative cognitions and perceived lack of social skills. Underlying ACT is the branch of philosophical science termed functional contextualism (Hayes, Pistorello, & Levin, 2012).

Williams et al (2014) compared MBCT with both cognitive psychological education, and treatment as usual, he compared the success rate of the therapy in preventing the relapse of MDD in people currently in remission phase following at least 3 previous episodes. It was consequently found that MBCT provided significant protection against the relapse, for participants with increased vulnerability due to adverse psychological history, but showed no significant advantage in comparison to an active control treatment and usual care over the whole group of patients with persistently recurring depression.

Mindfulness can be described as the physiological approach of a person bringing his or her attention on the internal and external occurrences taking place in the present moment. It is usually the situation where a person is conscious of what is happening in their surrounding and environment (Schonert-Reichl and Roeser, 2016). Many mindfulness approaches and theories which have been developed mainly from Buddhist psychology have revealed that mindfulness is one of the most remarkable ways that help in the practice and study of mental health. Mindfulness is one of the best ways that may help people to enjoy good health and wellness across their lifespan.

In this paper, I will describe my initial thoughts about the practice of mindfulness and my development regarding practicing it. Furthermore, I will explore the idea of being a mindful therapist and how I am hoping to apply this with patients in the future.