Mindfulness: the Art of Being Human

Excerpt

There are an increasing number of people interested in practicing mindfulness. Perhaps this reflects a growing wish amongst people to live a more peaceful life and connect with a deeper part of themselves. Or perhaps it simply reflects people’s wish to be fashionable and partake in a recent lifestyle trend. Either way, if as little as 5% of the population of each country was to practice mindfulness wholeheartedly, we believe the benefits to the wellbeing of this planet would be immense. It would mean that at least one in 20 people were fully experiencing the wisdom and wonder of the present moment. It would mean that the same number of people were closely observing their thoughts, emotions and mental processes and choosing how to act in response to those mental processes rather than be governed by them. It would mean that at every major meeting of government officials, military generals and business leaders, there would be one or two individuals who, guided by the wisdom of mindfulness, were able to inject spiritual insight into the dialogue. The same applies to seemingly less impactful gatherings such as a discussion between friends in the pub or on social media, a debate between university students or a conversation amongst parents waiting outside school to collect their children. Because their thoughts, words and actions are infused with wisdom and compassion, a person rooted in the present moment is like a brightly shining star that can be used to help navigate in the dark. They invigorate those around them and point out the way to individuals wanting to leave behind mindless living and find their inner self. Their capacity to improve the future of this planet should not be underestimated. …