Why is mindfulness so beneficial?
- Michelle L. Caruso
- Feb 10
- 2 min read
It is the nature of the mind to run constantly and seek topics to ponder about, replay, ruminate over, critique, etc. A 2020 Queen’s University study estimates that the average American has 6,200 thoughts per day, which breaks down to 6.5 thoughts per minute (and that’s if you sleep for 8 hours)... If we do not learn to work with our minds, we may spend most of our day lost in thought!
The practice of mindfulness is rooted in 2,500-year traditions from Buddhism and Hinduism. The Pali word sati, or “that which is remembered,” was translated as “mindfulness” in 1881, but knowledge of these practices did not become widespread and scientifically validated in the US until 1979, when Jon Kabat-Zinn founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of MA Medical Center.
Since then, mindfulness has become a go-to clinical recommendation and a widely used method for promoting well-being across age groups. It can be, however, surprisingly complex as once you start to pay attention to the moment, it can be overwhelming or displeasing - particularly for those of us with a trauma history. In my experience, receptivity to what is or non-judgment may need to be practiced, as, before we even realize it, our understandably reactive mind has coded a stimulus as positive, negative, or neutral.
The good news is that the more we practice mindfulness, the better we begin to recognize the nature of the mind - and once we better understand our mind and our way of relating to life, a new way and more choices become available. To truly practice mindfulness is to consistently return to the present moment throughout our day and across contexts, so even when we’re doing routine tasks, we are fully present and participating in each step.
During a retreat with renowned Vipassana (“to see things as they really are”) teacher Joseph Goldstein, he directed us to pay close attention to the next time we brushed our teeth and emphasized that it would be different from what we expected. He was right, and I encourage you to do the same!
If you’re interested in support enhancing present moment awareness, please reach out. The practice of mindfulness is truly life-changing.
Take good care,
Michelle
