What is Mindfulness?

According to Jon Kabat-Zin, leading American Psychologist, “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally.”

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To say that “Mindfulness” is a buzzword nowadays is an understatement. It is everywhere. From mainstream media to the study of science, the mindfulness movement is growing exponentially. 

 

As more and more clinical studies and research are being conducted, mindfulness has proven to improve lives around the world. In the UK, not only mindfulness programmes are being offered to the general public, it is also available in schools and universities as well as in the House of Parliament. In late 2021, the NHS drafted new guidance on how to support depression before prescribing medication, making MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) programmes available to support mental health. 

 

However, there are also a lot of myths and misconceptions of what Mindfulness really is. Here are 10 myths debunked:

 

Myth 01: Mindfulness is Meditation

 

You don’t have to sit like a Buddha to be mindful. It is an innate capacity we all have to be aware of what is happening within us and around us in this very moment, simply observing and without engaging with it. Just like watching the clouds passing by without evaluating them.

 

Mindfulness Meditation is one form of practice which helps us to cultivate this awareness, this sense of “waking up to” and being able to sustain the attention of it, with the intention of self-understanding and wisdom. 

 

Myth 02: Mindfulness is “religious”

 

Mindfulness is a form of contemplative practice that is from Buddhism. However, it is also practised in other world’s major religions. In the context of mindfulness for the general public and workplace, it is completely secular and inclusive. There is no commitment in any form of spiritual traditions.

 

Myths 03: Mindfulness can “clear or empty the mind”

 

Well, our brain is one sophisticated machine! Thinking and doing are part of its major functions. So to ask your brain to “clear or empty the mind” is pretty much mission impossible. However, this does not mean we can’t be mindful.

 

One of the intentions of mindfulness practice is to build on this sustained attention. A thousand times our mind wanders off, we simply take note of where it has been, then gently and patiently bring our focus back to the task at hand. It’s a bit like building muscle for resilience, how we can simply observe without being pulled by the thoughts emotionally.

 

Myths 04: Mindfulness is for relaxation and to chill

 

Mindfulness is not relaxation or stress reduction, although these are both great byproducts of it. The aim of mindfulness practice is to allow us, through cultivating this innate awareness, to have an informed picture of what really is happening to our body, emotions, thoughts and impulse just as they are. The more we practice, this will help us to see our own thinking pattern and how that may affect our relationships to our world. So rather than constantly living in reactivity, we begin to have a choice of how to respond to life skilfully. 

 

Myth 05: It is all about the breath

 

Indeed the one of the first mindfulness exercises you will be introduced to is learning to be aware of your breath. The breath is always with us and it is a helpful, easily accessible anchor to have whenever we feel unsteady with our emotions or if we are in pain. Simply by taking a breath can help us to come back to the present moment. 

 

However, there are many different anchors we can use such as the sole of your feet, the contact of your seat, sound, smell, sight, touch. Even movement can be a steadying anchor to help us to stay grounded and focus.

 

Myth 06: Mindfulness is suitable for everyone and helps with everything

 

Although the practice of mindfulness across the general population and its effectiveness in clinical settings is growing, in particular to help with anxiety and depression, it is not a "one-size-fits-all"intervention as it is not suitable for certain groups of people with particular conditions. (See our Suitability page) There is still a lot more research and studies need to be done on the effectiveness of mindfulness outside of the health setting. 

 

The term “McMindfulness” is coined by critics particularly aiming at courses that offer lighter practices.This is because this does not allow the participants to have a chance to develop and deepen their sustained attention as well as their understanding of the practices. Hence, they may not be able to fully reach the potential of the benefits of mindfulness.

 

Myth 07: Mindfulness is dangerous

 

Even though mindfulness may not be suitable for everyone, clinical trials show that there are no significant side effects in participating in a lighter form of training such as MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy). More noticeable negative effect tends to show when participating prolonged silent training or retreats. 

 

A trained mindfulness teacher will be able to identify if an individual is suitable for the course. This includes a pre-assessment process to ensure that the participants do not have any preexisting conditions such as currently suffering from depression, PTSD or other previous trauma that may be triggered through particular practices, as well as going through life changes such as divorce and bereavement. 

 

Myth 08: Mindfulness is being passive

 

Quite the contrary. The practice of mindfulness not only helps us to build resilience by learning not to get pulled by different situations or emotions all the time, it also helps us to strengthen our relationships we have with our body and mind, tuning into our "gut feelings".

 

The ability to be aware of the here and now, teaches us to accept things as they are, giving ourselves the opportunity to explore what we are facing as well as when reflecting on the past. This opens our minds to a broader perspective, allowing us to make an informed decision of what the appropriate actions might be.

 

Myth 09: Mindfulness makes life perfect

 

Well, not quite. Life is just like the Western Movie title, it is full of “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.” Learning to be mindful of ourselves, both body and mind, and our wider world, encourages us to embrace life’s many facets. In other words, in order to live life fully, not only do we need to savour and cherish our pleasant experiences, but we also need to be able welcome the neutral ones just as they are, and to lean into the unpleasant so we can stay agile to weather the storms. 

 

It is only when we build such plasticity, with kindness and compassion, that we will be able to create and maintain our sense of balance and hopefully flourish in our lives. 

 

Myth 10: Mindfulness is a quick fix

 

Nobody can expect to get a six pack body by going to the gym once. Same with mindfulness, it needs a lot of practice and patience in order to build this “muscle”. And therefore it is a lifelong practice. The good news is, you may find that not every practice is the same and the impermanence of life provides us with plenty of opportunities to stay curious, to keep learning and discovering.

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