What is mindfulness?
The first definition the Oxford English Dictionary lists:-
“the state or quality of being mindful”.
However, the other definition of mindfulness is
“with reference to yoga philosophy and Buddhism: the meditative state of being both fully aware of the moment and of being self-conscious of and attentive to this awareness; a state of intense concentration on one’s own thought processes; self-awareness”.
Yet now the word is everywhere.
It’s been diluted from its origins to now encompass all manner of meditation techniques, treatments for daily stress, even ways to lose weight.
NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) backs it as a treatment for those with recurring depression; indeed, it has been proven to reduce the recurrence rate by 40-50 per cent over 12 months. Thirty per cent of British GPs now refer patients at war with their thoughts for mindfulness-based treatment.
Yet is the main issue being lost here?Is the question we should be asking,
“why are so many of us living lives we feel unable to cope with? How is it that we are so unhappy with our lots that we will willingly sit cringing in a room with our colleagues or even a bunch of complete strangers while remembering to breathe?”
This quick fix will only ever be a sticking plaster if the root cause of the stress is not being addressed. All the mental awareness in the world will not help if your partner beats you, you hate your job or you have nowhere to live.
It is also rather ironic that the army uses a form of mindfulness, an essentially peaceful practice to train their soldiers to fight more effectively.
There is no doubt that many people have found the practice of focusing on the moment and not letting the past control them or worries about the future dominate their lives invaluable in managing stress levels. However, ‘mindfulness’ is in danger of becoming just another quick fix for all of life’s ills without anyone really knowing what it actually is.
So what happens?
“You don’t get it. Oh well, there is another thing I’m no good at!”
borderline personality disorder 