"Is mindfulness making us ill?"

I've found that being too mindful definitely has negative effects for me. Though I've never had such an extreme reaction as the author of the article I don't like being too mindful. My problems are more to do with being over-analytical. Focusing too much on each moment can cause this.

I've never had a problem with mindfulness meditation, though I have not used that method a great many times.

Thanks for sharing this one!

We end up conflating a few ideas here. It's a muddle.

The article describes a phenomenon known as McMindfulness. It's mostly about compliance and relaxation skills. Yes, it's a real term. Look it up.

People also confuse Mindfulness with Relaxation. They are not the same. Relaxation is not, strictly speaking, a meditation skill.

If you are practicing Mindfulness for pleasure or as a method if feeling better, you're barking up the wrong tree. That's not what it's for.

From personal experience, I have never found "mindfulness" to be bad or harmful. Quite the opposite.

So does this mean that perhaps it works for me and not for others? Could...

But I offer a different line of thought. :ohmy:
Many people busy about in their day to day lives with not much notice to their inner well being. We spend a great deal of time looking at our physical well being, the well being of our relationships, accounts, jobs, homes, families; but ourselves... we tend to operate under the false assumption that as long as I feel well I am well. Please, at that last comment, do not spur into hypochondriac fits.

But if we do not really pay attention to ourselves, or what our bodies are telling us, or even know what it would sound like if we were distressed; then doesn't it stand to reason there is a possibility that the first time we are calm, at peace and mindful we see or recognize a tension and stress that we unknowingly carry every day?

To me, this says that the author has probably been in touch with the stress they cling to daily and that they might want to reconsider their priorities if for no other reason than their health.

But, that is just what I got from it.

"i started paying attention to what i was doing and it made me sick"
lolz

OB1Shinobi wrote: "i started paying attention to what i was doing and it made me sick"
lolz

This happened to me once. I was experimenting with different tasks that I could do while being mindful. The dishes was a bad idea. :sick: :laugh:

OB1Shinobi wrote: "i started paying attention to what i was doing and it made me sick"
lolz

^^^^

Ding ding ding!

I've seen things like that described as 'signs of progress' mentioned in some Eastern traditions, but they probably should use a softer approach for corporate relaxation retreats, as physical pain and emotional disturbances might need to be approached and worked through in a more sympathetic framework then a weekend retreat or once a week sessions on a couch.


Sorry, couldn't resist.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUoBkhTFdWA
:blink: :pinch:

i made a joke about this but i actually took it serious, and have been researching it further - if anyone is interested, this is a very good article: http://www.spiritualcompetency.com/scrcQuiz.aspx?courseID=31 which links to several others and, all in all, is the most comprehensive source i have found on the topic

Avalonslight wrote: What I didn't see a full acknowledgment of, though I think it touched it briefly, was the level of high stress Western society in particular happens to have, and when you tell someone to sit down and be "mindful" about their feelings, you're bringing to the surface those extreme stressors. Again, in someone who may have an undiagonosed issue such as anxiety disorders or ADHD or what have you, bringing those stressors up to the surface like that when they're traditional suppressed (because let's be honest, that's what our society teaches us to do) then it makes sense to me that some people would have such negative reactions.

When I was 16 and extremely overweight with an extra 5 lbs to complain about, I bought a subliminal weight loss tape. Anybody remember those? LOL There was a guided meditation to it, and I listened to it for about a week. It was during this guided meditation around a week in when I had my very first panic attack. I think there's definitely something to your point, Ava