Defining Mindfulness
First thing is first – what is Mindfulness? Like other psychological theories there are three factors which interact: thoughts (and feelings), behavior, and environment, which address mental health and ultimately therapy services.
Typically, people examine this three-way interaction in the following non-Mindfulness manner, regardless of starting point: (1) Thoughts and feelings determine actions; (2) Actions change the environment; and (3) The environment will provide some feedback, changing thoughts and feelings. Although there is no true starting point, people believe thoughts and feelings can be absolutely controlled, so a vast amount of time and energy is spent here. Time and energy is focused on identifying thoughts and feelings labeled “bad” or irrational, then challenging and replacing them with “good” ones. People believe the exchange from “bad” to “good” would change the entire dynamic of the three-way interaction, resulting in better actions, better environment, and eventually better thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, most people find out the struggles with control, attempting to change the dynamic with little results.
Mindfulness looks at this three-way interaction much differently and is fundamental to the theory. (1) Ask yourself – have you ever had a thought or feeling that you have not followed? Think about this for a moment. The simple answer here is yes. All thoughts and feelings experienced are not followed. There been numerous instances where the thought of doing something or having a feeling have not resulted in matching action. With this idea, we understand thoughts and feelings do not have control of how we behave. (2) Many people want to believe actions control the environment, which is defined as all other people, places, and activities which occur outside the self. Nevertheless, reflection of this idea has many examples where actions did not amount to the desired change in the environment. The idea of control, a topic discussed throughout this book, applies to very few things in Mindfulness Theory. In the action-environment interaction there is control over action, but we do not control the environment. People may have influence on the environment, but attempting to control the environment wastes valuable time and energy. (3) Finally, the link between environment-thoughts (and feelings). People place much emphasis on this connection and believe the environment somehow controls thoughts and feelings, like a puppet master controlling internal experiences. An examination of this connection reveals a different outcome. Although the environment attempts to push people in certain directions it does not have a single outcome. There are many outcomes. One person may take failure as a sign of being worthless, whereas another interprets a challenge or room for improvement. The environment does not have complete or total control of thoughts and feelings, but attempts to push in certain directions.