Mindfulness & Psychology
The Mindfulness Way
From time to time, we are faced with worrying situations and difficulties. While trying to make sense of these happenings around us, we may experience stress, anxiety, fear, or sadness. Whether it is about your job, personal or family life, sometimes we just need some support in moving forward or simply want to enhance our sense of wellbeing, performance, resilience, and creativity. When we apply mindfulness in our daily life, we will be less likely to be caught up with our thoughts, feelings and emotions, thus allowing our minds to have greater clarity, to be calmer and more focused.
Mindfulness is both practice and a way of life. One of the most effective method in which we can develop mindfulness is through formal practice of meditation and through daily complementing activities such as walking and eating. It is a way of engaging in the present with awareness and clarity so that you can cope with your stress and challenges. It is a practice of paying attention to whatever is happening in the present moment. Thus, it helps you recognise and step away from habitual, often unconscious reactions to everyday events.
What are the Benefits?
√ Recognise, slow down or stop automatic and habitual reactions.
√ Respond more effectively to complex or difficult situations.
√ See situations more clearly.
√ Develop greater self-awareness.
√ Achieve balance and resilience at work and at home.
Mindfulness is based on the pioneering work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and is backed up by 30 years of published research.
Research suggests that mindfulness confers significant benefits for general wellbeing, health, and quality of life. Practising mindfulness is helpful for coping with anxiety, work or family stress, relationship issues, life transitions, emotional and psychological challenges, and managing chronic pain or physical illness. Learning mindfulness skills provides a way of freeing oneself from the habitual and unhelpful ways of thinking and responding. Mindfulness gives us tools by noticing and appreciating the good and the interesting things that happen in our day-to-day lives.
Mindfulness is an evidence-based self-management technique. Mindfulness can be developed in many ways. We can start by placing attention on an activity, being aware when our minds are distracted, and refocusing on the activity. One of the most effective method is by meditation and practising daily activities such as walking and eating
Through a set of specific practices, you will learn life-enhancing skills that you can apply in your daily life whenever you may need them. Mindfulness is an active moment-to-moment observation of our mental process (mind) thereby allowing us to be aware of what is happening in our mind and body. It is about being here and now instead of dwelling in the past or worrying over the future. Some of the core skills you will learn in mindfulness is a way of paying attention, on purpose and non-judgmentally, to what goes on in the present moment in your mind, body, and the environment around you. One of the most effective method in which we can develop mindfulness is through formal practice of meditation and through daily complementing activities such as walking and eating.
The Chinese character for “mindfulness” is 念 niàn. The character consists of two parts. The upper part of the character means 'now' and the lower part of the character means 'mind' or 'heart'. As such, the combined character means the act of experiencing the present moment with your heart - Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, in The Heart of Buddha's Teaching (2008), p64.
Learn how to incorporate mindfulness into your busy daily work and personal life.
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Mindfulness & Research
All information on mindfulness
Mindfulness Books
Books available on Amazon and at Singapore local bookstores:
Full Catastrophe Living: How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation
By: Prof. Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world
By: Prof. Dr. Mark Williams