Mindfulness is a state of being that involves three primary

components:

• paying attention

• being in the present moment

• withholding judgment

Research has shown that mindfulness is a skill that can be strengthened with

repeated practice.

 

 

 

 

Although mindfulness has been practiced for thousands of years, for example, through Buddhist traditions, research on it is relatively new and ever-increasing. There are several studies that seem to indicate that mindfulness is associated with increases in both affective and cognitive empathy. Mindfulness probably increases empathy by several mechanisms:

• Reducing personal distress from past events. Often, the mind tends to ruminate on past events that have caused distress. By bringing awareness to the present moment, anxiety is reduced.

• Increasing acceptance of distressing emotional states. Part of empathizing could be do share in a distressful emotional state of another. To do this requires withholding of judgment and staying present with the other person, both skills that mindfulness taps into.

• Allowing for room to focus on others’ perspectives and feelings. Mindfulness involves the intentional placement of attention on the present moment. To empathize, one must pay attention to the other person and be aware of their emotional state in the present moment.

• Expanding awareness of thoughts and feelings. Because mindfulness cultivates awareness of one’s inner state, an individual who practices mindfulness may expand their recognition of their own thoughts and feelings, providing for the possibility of recognition of similar thoughts and feelings in others.

 

Here are some easy mindfulness activities that you can practice with students. If these aren't enough, There are many free resources for additional mindfulness activities, including from UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center.