What exactly is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a buzzword these days… but what exactly is it? I remember seeing pictures of serene looking people sitting in a lotus position and thinking, “I don’t feel that zen when I try to meditate or practice mindfulness!” Let us help you debunk a few myths about how mindfulness can help with moral distress and moral injury.
Mindfulness is a mental practice that involves being present and aware of our thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present moment without judgment. This practice has gained popularity in recent years due to its proven benefits for mental health and well-being. One area where mindfulness can be particularly helpful is in addressing moral injury.
Moral injury is the harm that occurs when a person's ethical or moral code is violated, often in the context of war, healthcare, or other high-stress professions. The effects of moral injury can include guilt, shame, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mindfulness can be a powerful tool for addressing the effects of moral injury by helping individuals process their experiences in a more compassionate and non-judgmental way.
When we practice mindfulness, we learn to pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judgment. This can help us become more aware of our reactions to stressful situations and help us respond in a more compassionate and intentional way. By practicing mindfulness, we can also learn to observe our thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them. This can be particularly helpful for individuals with moral injury who may experience intrusive thoughts or feelings of guilt or shame.
Mindfulness can also help individuals with moral injury develop a sense of self-compassion. When we are kind to ourselves, we can begin to heal the wounds of moral injury and develop a more positive sense of self. By learning to be more present and aware of our thoughts and feelings, we can begin to treat ourselves with kindness and compassion, even in the face of difficult experiences.
