Since 1979, thousands of people have taken an eight-week course called Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (also known as MBSR). What is MBSR? Simply put, it is a course of study where people learn to become more mindful of themselves and their emotions. By becoming more self-aware, people may find new ways to relate to difficulties in both body and mind.
MBSR was introduced as a way for people to handle pain and other physical discomfort. Over time it was also used for a range of mental and physical concerns, and in the 1990s it became widely known. MBSR complements medical and mental health care; it is not a replacement for it.
How it all began
Founded in 1979 by Jon Kabat-Zinn, a Professor of Medicine Emeritus and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, MBSR is a holistic, yet scientific, answer to the question, “How can we be happier?”
Kabat-Zinn drew on Buddhist teachings in creating the program. He later presented it in secular, scientific terms, focusing on how mindfulness may ease pain and support well-being.
MBSR gained wide attention after Kabat-Zinn’s work was featured in Bill Moyers’s 1993 PBS special Healing and the Mind. Since then, many thousands of people have taken the course.
What is mindfulness?
Being mindful is not necessarily about being happy all of the time. Becoming more mindful will not bring you instant peace and satisfaction. It can, however, help you notice what causes you distress and how you might move towards the life you want.
Mindfulness is about being in touch with your emotions, your body and yourself. It is about seeing clearly, and with compassion, what makes you feel poorly, both physically and emotionally. While becoming more mindful won’t fix your issues, it can help you find a way to ease your suffering.
How MBSR works
MBSR draws on several traditions, from science, medicine and psychology to meditative traditions such as Buddhism and yoga. People of any belief system can take part.
A typical MBSR course includes:
MBSR teaches students to pay close attention to every moment of their lives in a non-judgmental fashion. The term mindfulness can mean different things but primarily it is about having focused attention, staying grounded in the now while also bringing purposeful action and curiosity. Students of MBSR learn to get in touch with themselves in a way that many people rarely do these days.
Mindfulness Is Happiness
Becoming more mindful can be challenging, and many people find it worthwhile. Becoming more aware of who you are and why you feel pain or sadness may help you meet your difficulties with more understanding. If you are living with depression or chronic pain, mindfulness works best alongside the care of a doctor or therapist.
If you have questions about mindfulness, you can reach us through the contact page.
