¶ … mindfulness and staying in a state of consciousness. The major thesis and argument presented by the author is that mindfulness is directly related to the well being and a positive mental health of the person. The concept of mindfulness is that the person stays in the present and is alert and aware of his surroundings. Mindfulness is basically classified as the state of being aware and attentive of what is happening in the present. (Brown and Ryan, 2003) It has been believed since a long time that mindfulness does promote the well being of a person. This research takes into consideration the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) through which the subjects are analyzed and assessed. MAAS basically analyzed the quality and degree of consciousness of a person and links that to the self-awareness and well being of the subject. This article goes through laboratory, quasi-experimental and correlation studies and attempts to prove the aforementioned assertion.
The research was carried out after careful analysis and consideration of the works of other great authors like William James and Langer. Regardless, the studies carried out were done so the accuracy of these assertions could be figured out. It was stated in the research that individuals do have varying level of alertness and consciousness because of what they inherit. The MAAS scale therefore was created as part of this research so that awareness is measured from time to time.
To minimize any lapses in accuracy, the study was carried out on different populations and in different scenarios. In my opinion, the repetition of the study in different scenarios was crucial because it tested the same thesis many times. These studies therefore showed the major correlation between mindfulness and well being of the patients. It was concluded overall that mindfulness does play a significant role in the well being and positive mental health of the patient. (Brown and Ryan, 2003)
Even though this was a decent article on the study of mindfulness, a lot of questions still remain unanswered. It is not clear how mindfulness develops and which conditions promote its development. Regardless, the positive correlation backs up the assertions made by the author and thus provides further stimulus for research on this subject.
References
Brown, K. And Ryan, R. (2003). The Benefits of Being Present:Mindfulness and Its Role in Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84 (4), pp. 822-848.
