Almost any good psychotherapy service incorporates some sense of increased awareness that has been known to be labeled as “mindfulness.”
What many people want from therapy is a sense of inner peace, the ability to not fall apart when stressful life events happen, and some sense to stability, predictability, and control. Most people in general want to feel a sense of hopefulness, influence, and autonomy. Some need to feel validated, heard, understood, or not invisible. For some it is getting organized, having emotional clarity, gaining skills to address conflict effectively, or being clearer about a life direction.
Mindfulness, from my teaching perspective, involves things that seem simple and basic but in general can be difficult. Being present, sitting with discomfort, or not reacting when there is is urge to control the outcome are challenges for lots of people. Let’s be honest: Life involves painful things. How can it best be survived?
Recently I came up with a brief definition of what exactly it means to be mindful. In some ways it is the nutshell version of the secret to mindfulness. It’s also an overview of some of the best teaching points, and influences my adaptive “mindful minutes” that I invite people to do at the beginning of all the groups I facilitate.
The steps I’ve outlined are ways to open up space inside you. What I wish for the people that work with me is to have a flexible momentum for waves of change, loss, uncertainty, or distress. When people are flexible and adaptive, they are better equipped to solve problems, act with confidence, think more clearly, and move forward with effective actions.
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