A (Very) Brief History of Mindfulness

Mindfulness has been practiced for thousands of years. It originated in the Far East where Hinduism and Buddhism originated, but they aren't the only religion who have practiced Mindfulness. But the Mindfulness that came from Hinduism and Buddhism were based more on religion. The mindfulness movement that has been sweeping the Western part of the globe has been more secular in nature. One reason that the Mindfulness movement came to the United States is because of Jon Kabatt-Zinn who founded the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is also the developer of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, which is an 8 week program for anyone who wants to reduce their stress. This program has sparked numerous other programs around the county, like the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy which can be used to treat Major Depressive Disorder and other issues.

This has really caught on as more and more people are diagnosed with depression issues and other issues, such as anxiety. I know that as I have had the "opportunity" to deal with depression and anxiety that my recent experimenting with Mindfulness has really helped my overcome the "funks" that I seem to get into. I also like to use Mindfulness when I am experiencing something new, so that I can get the most out of the experience. My favorite time for Mindfulness has been when I am in nature. It connects me to the World around me and helps me relax and renew. This is why I think that Mindfulness and Farming could be a great combination.