How does mindfulness help?

by Geoff Livingston

Question by jlreynolds0630 on "Mindfulness":

The Buddhist concept of mindfulness is to live in the present moment, not ruminating on past sorrows or anticipating future events. If a person were to live their life with this mindset would this not cause them more suffering rather than less? You have to think of the future to do simple and necessary tasks like paying bills on time and buying enough groceries for the week.

Best Answer:

Answer by PattyAnn
Planning for the future is one thing that helps one be mindful. Worrying about it doesn't help a thing. No one is against planning. How can it cause more suffering than worrying constantly? Mindfulness doesn't mean you don't pay bills or do necessary things. Have you ever been on a trip with someone who has to photograph everything so they will remember it? And when asked about their trip, they don't remember a thing? Sometimes we can get too busy taking photos, so to speak, to really live in the moment. And leave past sorrows behind altogether. And past anger and resentment too.

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In recent years, people of diverse social and religious backgrounds have embraced the Buddhist philosophy of mindfulness, or bringing one's awareness to focus on the present moment, to enrich their mental and spiritual lives. Through her experience as a counselor, a founding member of a Twelve Steps and mindfulness group, and a woman in recovery, Thérèse Jacobs-Stewart discovered a number of parallels between the practice of mindfulness and that of working the Twelve Steps, from the idea of living 'one day at a time' to the emphasis on prayer and meditation.

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