
Mindfulness is a practice of bringing one’s attention to the present moment with curiosity, openness and acceptance (sometimes referred to as beginner’s mind).
Mindfulness is based on centuries old Buddhist teachings and has been applied to many aspects of human suffering, struggle and difficulty including everyday concerns, depression, anxiety, physical symptoms, addictions, relationship issues, extreme and altered states, group conflicts and social tensions.
Mindfulness in Practice
Mindfulness practices vary widely but can be as simple as taking three successive breaths and focusing one’s attention fully on inhaling and exhaling.
When you bring your attention to the present moment you can achieve a state of calm awareness of your body, feelings and mind. This meditative awareness is actually comprised of two parts: self-regulated attention and orientation to experience. Both are important aspects of the mindfulness practice that over time help you to recognize habitual patterns and allow you to respond in new ways.
Fixing one’s attention on the here and now enhances receptivity to inner wisdom and helps us to filter the distracting thoughts that dull our capacity to listen deeply to the guidance of the heart. In therapy, mindfulness practices can help us to slow down and establish new ways of relating to ourselves and the many demands of our lives.
Resources and Further Reading
Books on Mindfulness
- Wherever You Go, There You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Mindfulness for Beginners, Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Coming to Our Senses, Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Letting Everything Become Your Teacher, Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Full Catastrophe Living (Revised Edition): Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
- The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness, Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, & Jon Kabat-Zinn
- The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions, Christopher K. Germer
- The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself, Michael A. Singer
- The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
- Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Shunryu Suzuki
- True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart, Tara Brach
- Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, Brene Brown
- The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are, Brene Brown
- I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Making the Journey from ‘What Will People Think?’ to ‘I Am Enough’, Brene Brown
- Tao Te Ching, Stephen Mitchell
- Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion, Pema Chödrön
- Focusing, Eugene T. Gendlin
- A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life, Jack Kornfield
- Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom, Joseph Goldstein
- Mindfulness, 25th anniversary edition, Ellen J. Langer
- The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion , Christopher K. Germer
- Full Catastrophe Living , Jon Kabat-Zinn
- The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself, Michael A. Singer
- The Miracle of Mindfulness, Thich Nhat Hanh
- One Moment Meditation, Martin Boroson
- The Book of Awakening, Mark Nepo