What is Mindfulness?

Simply put, Mindfulness is paying attention, on purpose, to the present experience, without judgment.

The qualities of Mindful awareness include:

  • Intention -- to be attentive
  • Openness -- to be present and honest with what is happening in the moment
  • Observing what is happening, instead of adding judgment

Video of Mindfulness presentation at CET's Principal's Parent Coffee, February 4, 2016:

mindfulness CET Principal Coffee Feb 4-2016.m4v

Paying Attention

How many times have you heard your teachers say the following:

"Pay attention, class!"

"What we're learning today is really important, so please pay attention."

"Have you been paying attention?"

-- Lots of times, right?

And how many times have you heard your teachers say this:

"Today, I'm going to teach you HOW to pay attention."

-- Probably never. That's where Mindfulness practice can really help, because you actually learn how to pay attention.

Mindfulness Creates Space

Mindfulness can change impulsive reactions to thoughtful responses.

(From Mindful Schools, www.mindfulschools.org)

Benefits of Mindfulness

A regular Mindfulness practice has the potential to result in some or all of the following benefits:

  • Better focus and concentration
  • Increased sense of calm
  • Decreased stress & anxiety
  • Enhanced health
  • Improved impulse control
  • Increased self-awareness
  • Skillful responses to difficult emotions
  • Increased empathy and understanding of others
  • Development of natural conflict resolution skills

Applications of Mindfulness

Here is a small sample of some of the areas of your life where you can apply Mindfulness:

  • Test taking
  • Public speaking
  • Sports
  • Music
  • Peer interactions
  • Family life

When you practice mindfulness deliberately, like following the breath for example, the point is to “do” nothing. Mindfulness practice is often about “non-doing,” which is a very difficult concept for most people to absorb. We are all programmed and conditioned to be doing something all our waking moments. Mindfulness really turns that on its head. Another unique aspect of mindfulness is that it is also the practice of non-judgment. We are always so quick to judge, especially ourselves, so when we practice non-judgment we are really practicing allowing things to be just as they are. And this is quite an alien way of operating for most people.

"Simply put, mindfulness is moment-to-moment awareness. It is cultivated by purposefully paying attention to things we ordinarily never give a moment's thought to. It is a systematic approach to developing new kinds of control and wisdom in our lives, based on our inner capacities for relaxation, paying attention, awareness, and insight."

-- Jon Kabat-Zinn, Full Catastrophe Living

Mindfulness and Media Literacy

There is a natural connection between Mindfulness and Media Literacy: Present-Centered Awareness. Mindfulness enables us to bring more focus to our consumption of the media, to bring a sharper attention to the messages with which we are bombarded on a daily basis, and to create space between the media stimuli and our responses. When children are exposed to an ever increasing supply of media violence, stereotypes, gender and racial biases, political propaganda and materialistic values, Mindfulness allows them to create the space they need to stop, think and question.


Ms. Mustacchi is a certified Mindful Schools Mindfulness educator and maintains a personal mindfulness practice.