Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Jon Kabat-Zinn, creator of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, defines mindfulness as “the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” 

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MBSR was developed in 1979 by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. While it was initially offered as an adjunct treatment modality for the hospital’s chronic pain patients, it has since made its way into many different settings where it is offered to the general public. It has been shown to harness inner resources and cultivate resilience.

MBSR has been researched for over 40 years and shown to consistently deliver positive outcomes associated with increased self-awareness and emotional and attentional regulation. In addition, outcomes have included symptom reduction for various physical and behavioral health conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, chronic pain, and hypertension. A recent (2022) study on anxiety showed that the benefits of MBSR are comparable to Lexapro. See also here (UMass) for a partial list of research publications. 

Participants often report a greater sense of joy in their lives, a new-found ability to appreciate the small moments of beauty and to be present with their inner and outer experience.

Don’t Hesitate

Mary Oliver

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,

don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty

of lives and whole towns destroyed or about

to be. And much can never be redeemed.

Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this

is its way of fighting back, that sometimes

something happens better than all the riches

or power in the world. It could be anything,

but very likely you notice it in the instant

when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case.

Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid

of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.