When we think of mindfulness, many people picture calm individuals meditating and may believe that such practices have little relevance to their own stressful lives. However, mindfulness in psychology is about much more than calmness; it is also about recognizing and accepting all of our emotions and mental states. Simply put, to be mindful is to become aware of the present moment without judgment. In psychological terms, this means becoming aware of one’s emotions, including inner turmoil, anxiety, and stress, in the moment, without judging oneself for having these emotions.

Questions such as "Why am I so stressed (depressed)?" and "What’s wrong with me?" are efforts to criticize oneself for having these emotions and actually cause more distress. Mindfulness psychology teaches us to simply become aware of what we are thinking and feeling in the moment. For just a few moments, we are not trying to fix those feelings or make them go away, but instead, we bring gentle awareness to those feelings and thoughts.

Mindfulness psychology also helps us notice how our thoughts are related to our feelings. By recognizing that our thoughts are just thoughts and not absolute truths, we can disengage from excessive worry as we reconnect with the present moment.

Research has shown that practices encouraging this calm, self-compassionate, and gentle awareness of our inner experiences—rather than avoiding them —lead to changes in our brain and mind. This can result in a deeper understanding of our feelings and healthier ways to deal with various situations. Programs like MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy), and others, help individuals regroup and reconnect by teaching empowering skills. These skills prevent us from being overwhelmed by our emotions and spending energy trying to numb, suppress, or eliminate them.

Mindfulness in psychology offers many ways to develop this new approach toward ourselves. Therapists incorporate mindful practices in therapy to achieve this gentle, non-judgmental awareness in clients, which is crucial for healing, insight, and growth. Mindfulness-based therapies have been shown to be effective in treating depression, anxiety, ADHD, and chronic pain.

While some methods involve meditation practices, all emphasize kindness toward oneself, non-judgmental awareness, and being in the present moment. This helps break bad habits we use to avoid difficult feelings and fosters a sense of peace and well-being by equipping us with tools to handle life's inevitable turmoil and stresses. Through mindfulness psychology come many practices and skills that enhance positive mental health and overall quality of life.

Originally published in the July 2024 edition of Your Health magazine