Mindfulness does not mean being able to sit on a cushion and feel one with all of the universe. Mindfulness is about realizing all the suffering, greed, and delusion that exist in this world. Kabat Zinn believes that mindfulness is a means to be more aware and present with these realities.
Practice mindfulness without suppressing it
Mindfulness is a powerful tool that allows you to return to the present moment. You can practice this by exploring your thoughts and feelings without judgment. It is important to recognize that we aren't always in control of our thoughts and emotions. Avoiding negative thoughts is not a wise idea. Doing so will give you more energy the next day.
While it's impossible to prevent every negative thought, regular practice of mindfulness can help you identify them. Then, you can stop reacting to negative thoughts and pause. Mindfulness can be a helpful tool to help you deal with situations that make you feel anxious and stressed.
Observing one's perception of and reactions to sensory objects
Sensory processing is about observing one's reactions and perceptions of sensory objects. This process involves the use of sensory receptors, which detect sensory stimuli and organize these sensations into a mental model. Every sensory system has absolute and difference thresholds. This is the minimum difference between stimuli that can activate it. These thresholds explain how people perceive things. Perceptions are also affected by beliefs, values and cultural experiences.
Mindfulness on a global level
Companies are increasingly using corporate mindfulness to increase employee happiness. The movement that began with tech companies is now being adopted by large corporations in the US and Europe, as well as government entities. Be it Google, Aetna, or Beiersdorf, companies are realizing the benefits of mindfulness as an employee-engagement tool.
The benefits of mindfulness have been proven to be beneficial for both one's mental and physical well-being. Not only can mindfulness be beneficial for the individual who practices it but also the community. For example, it improves the skills of emergency workers, police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and other volunteer workers. It improves cognitive flexibility and helps communities and individuals cope with stress.