Transform the way you think with a mindfulness approach

Mindfulness is a teaching rooted in Buddhist philosophy with a history of more than 2000 years and a psychotherapy approach whose effectiveness has been proven by scientific studies. Although it is rooted in philosophy and spirituality, it has become one of the most popular topics in modern psychology and psychotherapy in recent years.

The popularity of mindfulness began after it was conceptualized by Jon Kabat-Zinn, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the world's most renowned academic training institutions, and the positive effects of its practice on various pathological disorders were scientifically proven. Jon Kabat-Zinn, who scientifically conceptualized mindfulness and introduced it to the world of psychology, defines it as 'bringing attention to the present moment in a deliberate, intentional and non-judgmental way, in a special way'. So, how does bringing your attention to the present moment and being in the 'moment' in a non-judgmental, neutral manner contribute to our journey of mental transformation?

Bringing the past and future mind into the moment The human mind has an evolutionary tendency to constantly dwell on past memories and make plans for the future. The feelings of fear, sadness, unhappiness and anxiety about the future that come with thinking about past experiences can cause the body to constantly experience these emotions.

Research shows that when we think about a memory, our brain reacts as if we are experiencing it; in other words, it cannot distinguish between the mental reflection of an experience and the actual experience of that experience at that moment. Therefore, when you recall a past experience or envision future scenarios in your mind, your brain can automatically react emotionally to that situation. This can cause you to feel anxious, scared or upset, as if you are actually in a negative situation, even if there is no negative experience or challenging life event in the moment.

One of the most important misinterpretations of the mindfulness approach is the idea that with mindfulness we can turn negative emotions into positive ones or replace negative life experiences with more positive ones. The most important feature that distinguishes the mindfulness approach from other approaches to mental transformation is that it focuses not on changing our unpleasant feelings or thoughts, but on changing how we approach those feelings and thoughts.

In other words, the mindfulness approach is not concerned with our experiences and the emotions created by our thoughts about those experiences, but with how we perceive, evaluate, judge and approach those emotions. As a result, mindfulness is not about turning negative emotions into positive ones, but about accepting that negative emotions and experiences exist and changing our approach to them. In other words, its aim is not to save us from disturbing negative emotions or painful experiences, but to help us live a more peaceful life by gaining the ability to cope with the existence of those emotions and experiences.

Meditation is the most important mindfulness practice that aims to relax both physically and mentally; to gain awareness of oneself, one's surroundings and other people; to reduce stress and thereby support well-being. Meditation is very important for training one's mind and becoming more confident, more relaxed and easier to move at the level of consciousness. When a person can be completely in the moment, he or she learns to navigate his or her mind much more easily and to be more aware of subconscious thoughts, patterns and automatic behaviors.