Why Mindfulness

by Ulla Sarja Psychotherapist, educator, coach

There are dozens of different techniques for stress reduction but that mindfulness actually works has been proven
by different researchers. Mindfulness is based on Zen Buddhist meditation. The word ”Zen” means precisely to be. Zen is not just to sit down and meditate, but Zen is a way of life, a way of being. The actual sitting meditation in Zen is called zazen. The idea of Zen is to eventually get rid of prejudices and the likes and instead take everything as it is and just be alert, observe with acceptance and letting go. Mindfulness is the Western equivalent of Zen.
The following are quotes from Läkartidningen 2006, volume 103
What happens in mindfulness? And how different this type of
meditation is from other meditations, such as transcendental meditation (TM) which had resurgence in the West during the 1970 – and 1980.

The authors attempted to define mindfulness like describing
a state of deliberate, non-evaluative attention
on the present. It is this special attention that is perceived
as healing. Rather than go with the example of pain sensations,
anxiety and catastrophic thinking, you learn to relate
as a benevolent but unbiased observer of your own mental
activity. The different meditation techniques all seek to achieve
this special, focused but relaxed attention.
It may seem simple, but it is not.
No, it’s not easy but you can learn the technique if you really want.

If you want to know more, contact me!