Mary Martin PhD

"Mary is a brilliant guide." 

~Ian Walton, South Africa 

Mindfulness

Mindfulness means many things to many people. It can mean a particular state of mind (“mindful”); a practice of some sort (e.g., body scan, lovingkindness); a particular type of awareness; and/or a multifaceted personal practice used as a way of coming to know the nature of one’s mind, emotions, body, and habit patterns.

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Most people would define mindfulness meditation as a training of the attention that can result in increased concentration and focus, and less reactivity. There is so much more to it than moment-to-moment awareness of mental activity, emotions, sounds, and bodily sensations. However, if everyone increased their mindfulness according to that definition, assuming their intentions were sincere, the world would be a better place.

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We all have ways of thinking and behaving, both when we are "stressed" and when we're not. The mindfulness I teach is rooted in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. It's a way of being that positions you to be acutely aware of your present-moment experience, which enables you to be intentional and authentic with how you meet everyone and everything that shows up in your life. 

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There are all kinds of claims being made about the benefits of mindfulness, and you should always look into the sources behind the claims to determine whether you feel comfortable with the sources and the claims. The messenger and the message are both important, as nothing is free of context.

The competition for your attention is fierce. And if you don't know what it feels like when you're present, you won't fully grasp what it means to be lost in thought. Mindfulness begins with attention, but it's far from the whole story. Profound shifts occur as you become aware of, and able to meet, the full range of your human experience.

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Wake up to life.

What People Say . . .