{"ops":[{"insert":"Mindfulness is a term now showing up in various arenas of life, including education, business, and personal life. But what is mindfulness? How does it make sense to think of mindfulness as a useful term in our lives? Is the concept of mindfulness ambiguous, or is it clear and accessible as a transformative idea? Why do we need the term mindfulness, or do we? What does it add to our conceptual network of essential understandings? How does it help us, or does it help us, live at a higher level of self-fulfillment and concern for the common good? In short, how does adding the concept of mindfulness to our theory of mind help us live better?\n\nThese are the types of core questions critical thinkers ask when approaching new trends and fads in the language. In other words, they routinely ask questions like: How is this new term being used? Do these new terms improve upon how we have viewed things in the past? If so, how? And how might we therefore live in the future? \n\nBefore considering how the term mindfulness is now being used, we "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"may"},{"insert":" begin our conceptual analysis by considering the term "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"mindfulness"},{"insert":","},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"and asking what it might mean, logically, by taking apart the word itself. One possible interpretation is to think of mindfulness as having full control of one’s own mind (as in developing to the fullest one’s own mind, or in other words, achieving the fullness of one’s own mind). The concept of mindfulness may also imply being concerned to respect the rights and needs of others, as in being "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"mindful"},{"insert":" of how your behavior affects people and other sentient creatures. \n\nAnd though developing the capacity of one’s own mind and living an ethical life are essential to the rational, compassionate person, neither of these aims are apparently yet connected with the term mindfulness. Instead, it seems to focus on letting the mind go, accepting oneself unconditionally, and not being self-critical.\n\nThe concept of mindfulness originates from Buddhist teachings focused on the importance of living in the here and now, and on fully appreciating what is available to you in the moment. This concept has been brought into the mainstream through psychology, and refers to:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"a technique in which one focuses one's full attention only on the present, experiencing thoughts, feelings, and sensations but not judging them: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"The practice of mindfulness can reduce stress and physical pain."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"the mental state maintained by the use of this technique."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30"},"insert":" "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30"},"insert":"An article in "},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30","italic":true},"insert":"Psychology Today"},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30"},"insert":" provides a brief overview of mindfulness, and opens with this paragraph:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30"},"insert":" "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30"},"insert":"To live mindfully is to live in the moment and reawaken oneself to the present, rather than dwelling on the past or anticipating the future. To be mindful is to observe and label thoughts, feelings, sensations in the body in an objective manner. Mindfulness can therefore be a tool to avoid self-criticism and judgment while identifying and managing difficult emotions."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"Even the very brief overview above reveals significant contradictions and problems in current uses of the term mindfulness."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"First, and of course, it is important to fully live in the moment and appreciate life’s simple everyday pleasures, such as laughter, a sunset, a smile, the scent of a flower, the budding language of a child, the sound of an owl in the night. And it is essential not to dwell unproductively on negative thoughts, including those in one’s past. We can and should certainly relax the mind for a given period of time each day; but our future, if not planned, will probably be less than satisfactory, and will likely not lead to self-fulfillment (which should connect with a reasonable conception of mindfulness). In other words, though we do want to appreciate and fully live in the moment, it is impossible not to anticipate the future to some degree, and we undoubtedly want to plan our futures according to reasonable goals and principles."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"Second, it is elemental to “observe "},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30"},"insert":"and label thoughts, feelings, sensations in the body in an objective manner.” Naturally this connects with critical thinking since objectivity is a primary intellectual standard, or critical thinking standard. But this point contradicts the last sentence in the "},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30","italic":true},"insert":"Psychology Today"},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30"},"insert":" overview, which focuses on avoiding “self-criticism and judgment while identifying and managing difficult emotions.” Certainly, self-criticism – in the sense of unproductively disparaging oneself – is not helpful and can lead to mental health problems. But "},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30","italic":true},"insert":"self-critique"},{"attributes":{"color":"#2c2d30"},"insert":", which is sometimes confused to be self-criticism as described above, is essential to living a reasonable life. And human beings continually make judgments, though the quality of those judgments will vary. Good judgment is required for identifying and managing all emotions, including difficult ones."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"In the final analysis, it is through the tools of critical thinking that we can skillfully examine uses of the term “mindfulness,” or indeed any term whatsoever."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"When we take critical taking seriously, we come to see that it is essential to live in the moment, appreciate the good things in one’s life, and be aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and desires. But if we are to live a reasonable, ethical life, we must appropriately critique our own thoughts and behaviors. To live in the moment and find appreciation in the joys of everyday living, some people feel the need to engage in such things as meditation. And adequate amounts of relaxation are essential to a reasonable lifestyle. At the same time, we must learn, through discipline and commitment, to command the thoughts, feelings, and desires that are controlling us. For this we need tools of criticality. Yet critical thinking continues to mainly be ignored in human societies, as it seems to be ignored in current uses of mindfulness (with its numerous contradictions)."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"To learn more about the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and desires, I suggest that you work through the activities in our academy: "},{"attributes":{"color":"#0563c1","link":"https://community.criticalthinking.org/triangleOfThinking.php"},"insert":"https://community.criticalthinking.org/triangleOfThinking.php"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"  "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"To go further, and learn to command the egocentric and sociocentric tendencies that keep people from appreciating the good things in our lives, work through the activities in the wall barriers:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0563c1","link":"https://community.criticalthinking.org/wallOfBarriers.php"},"insert":"https://community.criticalthinking.org/wallOfBarriers.php"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"---"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"The definitions of mindfulness in this blog were taken from dictionary.com:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0563c1","link":"https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mindfulness"},"insert":"https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mindfulness"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"You can read the rest of the "},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a","italic":true},"insert":"Psychology Today"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":" article here: "},{"attributes":{"color":"#0563c1","link":"https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/mindfulness"},"insert":"https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/mindfulness"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":" "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":"(This article is part of the forthcoming book "},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a","italic":true},"insert":"Critical Thinking Therapy for Mental Health"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1a1a1a"},"insert":" by Linda Elder.)"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#4a4a4a"},"insert":" "},{"insert":"\n\n\n\n"}]}