The term “mindful” has been used quite a bit lately. We see and hear the term mindful in social media, television and in research. Mindfulness is a term used in psychology, spiritual health and family studies. In the text used for the Family Development Credential, offered this fall at Arizona Western College, mindfulness is defined as “an approach to counteract the inclination to think and act in mindless and unconscious ways,” (Forest, 2003). This definition was derived from Harvard professor of psychology Ellen Langer’s work in mindfulness research. Langer studies mindfulness in her lab among many other researchers. Langer also developed the Langer Mindfulness Scale which is used for her research in this area.

Also, Psychology Today defines mindfulness as a state of active, open attention on the present. When you’re mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.

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Monday, May 25, 2015 4:20 pm.