Mindfulness: The Anchor in the Storm

Ships in the harbor need to be anchored as they are brought back from a day at sea. If ships and boats were not secured, they would drift away if a storm were to occur at night. This is an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) metaphor to help explain Mindfulness. Quite often mindfulness is misunderstood. Let’s clarify some essential points: Definition of Mindfulness: Jon Kabat-Zinn defines it as: “Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” This means that we can learn to purposely notice what is happening in the here-and-now. As we do, we become observers without making evaluations or judgments about events, ourselves, and/or others. The Mind is an amazing machine that we were given so that we can survive in this world. Often it is called the “problem-solving machine.” Our mind is constantly producing thoughts and looking out for our own comfort and safety. If the mind perceives a threatening situation, it will find ways to help us feel comfortable again. When individuals experience anxiety, their mind will — like an amazing computer — find ways to “help” remove the unpleasant events. By default, because we carry our mind with us, we listen and often obey its directions. As we do, we can become fused and tangled up with our thoughts and feelings. Anxiety may ensue and as we try to get rid of it, we inadvertently reinforce it. It can turn into a vicious cycle. Research has sh...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Mindfulness Psychology Psychotherapy Stress Treatment Acceptance And Commitment Therapy attention Breathing Exercise Cognition Meditation Perception Present Moment Relaxation Source Type: blogs