But to do this effectively, teachers of mindfulness need to acknowledge that personal stress also has societal causes. Reducing suffering is a noble aim and it should be encouraged. Hence the pedlars of mindfulness step in to save the day.īut none of this means that mindfulness ought to be banned, or that anyone who finds it useful is deluded. Stress has been pathologised and privatised, and the burden of managing it outsourced to individuals. People are expected to adapt to what this model demands of them. The neoliberal order has imposed itself by stealth in the past few decades, widening inequality in pursuit of corporate wealth. A truly revolutionary movement would seek to overturn this dysfunctional system, but mindfulness only serves to reinforce its destructive logic. Instead of setting practitioners free, it helps them adjust to the very conditions that caused their problems. What remains is a tool of self-discipline, disguised as self-help. Although derived from Buddhism, it’s been stripped of the teachings on ethics that accompanied it, as well as the liberating aim of dissolving attachment to a false sense of self while enacting compassion for all other beings. Mindfulness is nothing more than basic concentration training. The problem is the product they’re selling, and how it’s been packaged. Most of the promoters of mindfulness are nice, and having personally met many of them, including the leaders of the movement, I have no doubt that their hearts are in the right place. Becoming more aware of automatic reactions can make people calmer and potentially kinder. Tuning out mental rumination does help reduce stress, as well as chronic anxiety and many other maladies. There are certainly worthy dimensions to mindfulness practice. And yet mindfulness zealots believe that paying closer attention to the present moment without passing judgment has the revolutionary power to transform the whole world. Instead of encouraging radical action, mindfulness says the causes of suffering are disproportionately inside us, not in the political and economic frameworks that shape how we live. In fact, it could also be making things worse. “The ability to focus for a few minutes on a single raisin isn’t silly if the skills it requires are the keys to surviving and succeeding in the 21st century,” the author explained.īut anything that offers success in our unjust society without trying to change it is not revolutionary – it just helps people cope. Paying attention and responding to these signals can help you be in the world with more presence.So, what exactly is this magic panacea? In 2014, Time magazine put a youthful blonde woman on its cover, blissing out above the words: “The Mindful Revolution.” The accompanying feature described a signature scene from the standardised course teaching MBSR: eating a raisin very slowly. Your body constantly provides signals about how you feel. You can feel easy and comfortable spending time with an old friend. You can wake up feeling alert and excited about your day. It can give you that burst of energy that allows you to walk or jog a bit longer. If you notice that your shoulders are tensing and your body is stiffening when you encounter a stressful situation, by simply taking a few deep breaths, you’ll be able to handle things more calmly.īody awareness also helps you become more aware of - and enjoy - the times when you feel good. With practice, for example, you can stay even and calm during a difficult conversation or a challenge at work. Do your shoulders creep up when you feel tense? Do you clench your teeth when you worry?īecoming more aware of your body helps you navigate life. Mindfully walking or running, doing yoga, or any type of movement can help you be more aware of your body - and this can offer you important information. Mindfulness isn’t only about sitting still and focusing on your breath. These, and other mindful movements get you out of your head and into your body. Taking a deep breath in, and a deep breath out before you start a stressful conversation.
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