“Meditation has been around for thousands of years, but the modern-day world feels a lot busier than it used to." -Andy Puddicombe, Headspace co-founder That endeavor may seem simple enough, but in our increasingly hectic and stressful world-where the rise of smartphones, social media, and constant connectivity correlates with the rise of burnout, insomnia, and loneliness-the notion of anything being simple isn't much more than a farce. Mindfulness essentially means focusing on the exact moment in time by using any or each of your senses. In short, mindfulness is all about being present. Mindfulness became the superhero to save us from ourselves and our devices But how and why did it happen, especially given the multiple millennia during which mindfulness certainly existed before it grew to be buzzy? It's clear that the ancient practice has found a foothold in the collective conscious, essentially becoming the backbone of modern self care during these past 10 years. "When individuals of significant cultural influence speak positively about something that has impacted their lives, people pay attention."
"We’re seeing celebrities, major CEOs, fashion icons, and musicians like Kendrick Lamar speaking openly about how meditation is critical to their lives," says Jesse Israel, founder of mass meditation movement, The Big Quiet. You can try a walking meditation, any number of meditation apps, or celebrity-vetted tips from the likes of Tim Ferriss, Miranda Kerr, and Oprah.Įvidence of the societal-wide embrace of mindfulness is also clearly seen in pop-culture references. And if you're curious about specific strategies for practicing this modern mindfulness, there are no shortage of resources. Now, whether you want to stop biting your nails, or smash your fitness goals, or channel your ambition at work, mindfulness is a go-to tool for making it happen.
BE MINDFUL HOW TO
Yet, in the past decade, learning how to be mindful came to the forefront of wellness culture and subsequently mainstream culture at large. Mindfulness is hardly a new concept in fact, the practice of cultivating an awareness of (and, often, gratitude for) the present moment stems from 2,500-year-old Buddhist psychology.