Global Affairs Center

This paper explores the current role of mindfulness in sustainability science, practice, and teaching. Based on a qualitative literature review that is complemented by an experimental learning lab, we sketch the patterns and core conceptual trajectories of the mindfulness–sustainability relationship.

Disruptive behavior in the classroom, poor academic performance, out-of-control emotions: if you work with adolescents, you are well-aware of the challenges this age group presents. What if there was a way to calm these students down and arm them with the mindfulness skills needed to really excel in school and life? Written by mindfulness expert and licensed clinical psychologist Patricia C. Broderick, Learning to Breathe is a secular program that tailors the teaching of mindfulness to the developmental needs of adolescents to help them understand their thoughts and feelings and manage distressing emotions. Students will be empowered by learning important mindfulness meditation skills that help them improve emotion regulation, reduce stress, improve overall performance, and, perhaps most importantly, develop their attention.

Imagine Ms. Cooper’s surprise and delight when she returned to her room at East Hills at the end of lunch one day, and found several of her students sitting on the floor, eyes closed, practicing a mindfulness exercise — without any prompting from an adult. Apparently, they’re not the only ones. For the last year, the school district’s staff has been learning more and more about mindfulness and how we all can benefit from it. Mindfulness is based on the idea that when life’s demands consistently outpace our ability to cope with them, it can lead to high levels of unhealthy, or toxic, stress. In students, toxic stress has been shown to impair attention, emotion and mood regulation, sleep and learning readiness.

The roots of mindfulness practice are common to both Eastern and Western spiritual contemplative traditions. It is at once a spiritual, meditative, reflective, psychological, and applied way of intentional living and communicating. As defined in Communicating Across Cultures by Stella TingToomey, as an Eastern Buddhist spiritual practice, mindfulness means attending to one's assumptions, arising emotions, intentions, cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors.

The term mindfulness is a Western psychological term that is used to refer to a practice that was borne out of Eastern philosophy, although many Western contemplative practices include elements of it as well (e.g., contemplative prayer in the Christian tradition). In particular, mindfulness is rooted in the Buddhist practice of Vipassana, which literally translates as “seeing things as they really are.”

Meditation is the practice of an extended state of contemplation for achieving calm, psychological balance, and wellbeing. It is sometimes practiced with the goal of achieving an altered state of consciousness.

While a majority of employers say their culture focuses on improving overall well-being, too many of their workers aren't aware of all of the organization's benefits to help them - or they're just not motivated enough to do anything about it, according to LifeWorks' report.

Police academies train officers on things like how to safely use a gun or bring a suspect to the ground. Even though the stress of police work is well-documented, officers aren’t often trained in how to manage their own mental and physical health. The Bend Police Department offers yoga and a gym in addition to the mindfulness training. There’s a buddy system for mental health support and a psychologist on staff.

After going on a mindfulness retreat in 2008, Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan has become a vocal advocate in DC for the practice. Speaking with Business insider, Ryan explains the benefits mindfulness can have for veterans, schoolchildren and average Americans.

I spoke to Jason Wachob, the founder and CEO of mindbodygreen, about what inspired him to start the company, how people can account for all aspects of wellness, his recommendations to employers about their wellness programs, he we can find meaning and happiness and his best career advice.