Why it is important to know what Mindfulness is
Mindfulness has turned part of the tradition of meditation into a therapeutic tool.
Mindfulness is an example of the extent to which psychology can be nourished by the principles and knowledge of mindfulness.is an example of the extent to which psychology can be nourished by principles and knowledge that were already present in certain cultures long before science as such began to exist.
This practice has its roots in the meditation associated with the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism, although it keeps aside the religious elements.Although it keeps aside the religious elements linked to rituals whose meaning is in the belief systems associated with that faith. And it does so because its raison d'être has to do with health and well-being, and not with tradition or mysticism. Therefore, its use is becoming increasingly popular in areas such as psychology or education.
What does Mindfulness consist of?
As we have seen, Mindfulness is inspired by a practice linked to Asia; specifically, Vipassana meditation. However, unlike the latter, Mindfulness has been conceived and designed as the product of a series of systematic efforts to obtain concrete and objectively measurable benefits, something that goes beyond the pretensions of what has historically been mediation.
Mindfulness is based on ways to regulate our attentional focus and make it oriented towards the present state, making us become fully aware of the present state.It is based on ways of regulating our attentional focus and orienting it towards the present state, making us fully aware of the here and now. In short, it brings the benefit of a mental "reset". It is not a matter of escaping or fleeing to an imaginary plane of reality, but of not allowing obsessions or contrived narratives of reality that we carry from the past to determine what our mental and emotional state should be.
This is why Mindfulness can be useful in several areas, since the management of attentional processes is something that affects our way of experiencing all kinds of situations. For example, it can be used to manage the experience of certain unpleasant events, or even in educational or learning contexts. even in educational or learning contexts..
Its use in psychology
In the field of psychological intervention in the context of health, Mindfulness is becoming one of the tools available to clinics and psychology centers, often combining it with the therapies of the cognitive-behavioral paradigm. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACTT)specifically, has in Mindfulness one of its most important pillars.
So, although Mindfulness is commonly used by mental health specialists, its fundamental principles can also be learned at the user level by virtually anyone interested in training in this practice and using it in their daily lives.
To continue learning about Mindfulness
If you are interested in learning more about Mindfulness, it's easy. Currently there is already a lot of information about this practice and its effects in contexts as disparate as education and mental health, so that books have emerged that combine both the information on its Asian origins in Buddhist meditation, as well as from scientific research and outside the realm of and that which does not belong to the humanities.
In this sense, one of the best ways to get started in the world of Mindfulness is the book What do we know about Mindfulness?written by Javier García Campayo and Marcelo Demarzo, two experts in this exciting subject.
Through its pages, What do we know about Mindfulness? gives an overview of both the most practical aspects of its application, useful for practitioners, therapists, instructors and teachers, as well as the part linked to scientific research on its uses and effects on those who use Mindfulness. Being a very complete book, it lends itself to be referred to whenever specific doubts arise about any of the characteristics and applications of Mindfulness.
- For more information about this book or to get a copy, you can click on this link.
A good help to deal with complicated situations
Mindfulness helps to overcome certain moments that we usually associate with stress and unpleasantness, but it can also be combined with certain tools that have been created to respond to very specific problems, such as relaxation techniques or controlled breathing exercises.. Thus, training this repertoire of skills can be very useful for self-regulating states of consciousness and dealing with challenging situations.
(Updated at Apr 13 / 2024)