Being here and now: Mindfulness, its applicability, and mechanisms of action

• Main Author: Miha Černetič
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Psychologists' Association 2005-09-01
• Series: Psihološka Obzorja
• Subjects: mindfulness; meditation; attention; awareness; stress
• Online Access: http://psiholoska-obzorja.si/arhiv_clanki/2005_2/cernetic.pdf

The construct of mindfulness is being investigated with increasing frequency in clinical and health psychology. It can be defined as non-judgemental, accepting awareness of what is going on in present moment. Mindfulness interventions have shown promising results across a wide spectrum of clinical and nonclinical problems, from stress, various psychiatric disorders to physical symptoms. Effects of mindfulness stem mainly from three core mechanisms of action: acceptance, decentred perspective, and self-regulation. When practicing mindfulness, an individual is observing his or her thoughts, feelings, and other cognitive, emotional and physical phenomena from the stance of impartial observer, without trying to change or avoid them. Although current research contains methodological flaws and there are many questions yet to be answered, present findings strongly support further research on mindfulness.