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Some Words on Mindfulness

I first came across mindfulness back in 1990, in my last couple of years in the army. I was responsible for a leadership programme and I was exploring ways to enhance the development process. As I learnt more about this ancient practice, and developed my own mindfulness rituals, I came to appreciate just how much it offers in all walks of life. Rooted in the great spiritual traditions, the modern movement has grown from its use in the medical world.  

Since 2001, controlled studies by Davidson, and Kabat-Zinn, have shown the impact of mindfulness training. They show that we can change the way our brain functions and, in doing so, change our physical and emotional state of being. It leads to greater engagement in our work, more energy, less anxiety. and improves the robustness of the immune system.  It encourages a resonance with those around you through self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. All of these are, to some extent, mindfulness skills.
 
Mindfulness teaches one to take an interest in all aspects of one’s experience and to “approach” it, treating it with acceptance and curiosity. A formal training in mindfulness teaches one to embrace and understand each passing moment with warmth, care, and curiosity, to live a life of harmony and fulfilment.  
 
‘How long does it take – to become mindful’? There is no straightforward answer. One might be, ‘Until you stop’, as the mind will never switch off. It’s like training any other part of the body, it does get easier as you go along but, as soon as you stop exercising or practising, then the muscle loses its power.

Be warned. Mindfulness alone, will not make you a better person or solve your worldly problems. It is only one of eight practices in the Buddhist Eight-fold path. Alone, it will have a beneficial impact - as part of a balanced way of life, it will be even more powerful. 
 
 Kabat-Zinn created an 8-week mindfulness training programme and this has become the standard format for trainers and practicioners. The important thing for those who want to walk this path is regular, daily practice and discipline. From my own experience, there is an expression in Tai Chi called the ‘hundred day rule’ and it captures the idea that to embed a new habit, you need to carry the intention and practise the skill or behaviour for one hundred days.