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Essay on Mindfulness, by Ellen Langer
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Introduction
In Mindfulness, Ellen Langer presents her research on mindfulness and mindlessness in work, health, interpersonal relationships, and everyday living. Mindful qualities include the ability to create new categories, openness to new information, awareness of more than one perspective, attention to process rather than outcome and control over context. Mindfully considering things in new and thought-provoking ways can seem difficult but it leads to an “exhilarating, never tiring” control of our own thinking (Langer, 1989, pg. 137). Mindfulness can lead to several benefits including increased “flexibility, productivity, innovation, leadership ability, and satisfaction” (Langer, 1989, pg. 133). When we actively engage in the present
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137). I entered Pacific Clinics with energy and openness to a new experience. The first intake I observed was beside the employment specialist. She was meeting with a new client that was diagnosed with ADHD and interested in securing a job. With no experience in this area, I had no preconceptions about the work ability of the client. However, as the meeting progressed, it became clear that the employment specialist had placed this client into a category. It was conveyed by the tone of her voice and the way she asked each question that she had an idea of this mans abilities before she knew his narrative. She began by asking him a series of impersonal questions to fill in the information necessary for the intake forms. She asked each question automatically as if she had repeated this task hundreds of times and always reached the necessary …show more content…
However, Langer shows that through mindlessness we may not be fully present or conscious during these activities. This mindlessness can disconnect us from our behaviors and ultimately limit our experiences. Incorporating mindfulness into occupational therapy practice can help increase client awareness of the present and establish a deeper meaning in daily activities. Occupational therapists can also integrate mindfulness into their professional and person life to become further aware of their own participation in meaningful occupations.
In developing my skills as an occupational therapist, it may become difficult to maintain mindfulness. As routines and habits become established, I may acquire automatic behaviors or become focused on the outcome rather than the process. In order to overcome these challenges, I must become aware of my own mindset. According to Taylor (2008), the most effect therapists are the ones that continually assess their interpersonal behaviors in therapy. Mindfully evaluating my interpersonal behaviors can allow me to reassess habitual ways of thinking and develop a greater sense of
She proposed the following hypothesis “Is occupational therapy a service vital and unique enough for medicine to support and society to reward” (Reilly, 1962). The hypothesis was out to prove that occupational therapy is important for medicine to sustain and for society to value. She proved her hypothesis by famously stating at the lecture.” That man, through the use of his hands, as they are energized by mind and will, can influence that state of his own health” (Reilly, 1962). Humans through the use of occupation can establish their thoughts, beliefs and mindset. The profession of occupational therapy is not solely medical based it requires that it also looks at humans accomplishments throughout. The profession should look at what one has accomplished and what one can accomplish through their occupations and how that can impact their well being (Reilly,
Occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistances work with a wide variety of populations throughout their career. Some of these different populations can include different types of backgrounds, genders, ages, economic statuses, ethnicities, and more. While working with these populations, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistances have to be aware of different types of influences that can not only affect the client, but the client’s occupations as well. In this article, “Psychosocial Aspects of Occupational Therapy,” it discusses the different types of psychosocial aspects that are in the field of occupational therapy.
Townsend & Polatajko (2007) state that “Occupational therapy is the art and science of enabling engagement in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster health and well-being; and of enabling a just and inclusive society so that all people may participate to their potential in the daily occupations of life”.
An understanding of occupation and its science dimension enables the therapist to gain knowledge about how patients orchestrate their lives through the doing of occupations in any given context. The occupational therapy proce...
Occupational therapy was based off of psychology; we evolved from treating mentally ill patients with isolation as an efficient treatment plan. We must never forget we are known to be “the art and science of helping people do the day-to-day activities that are important and meaningful to their health and well being through engagement in valued occupations” (Crepeau, Cohn, & Schell, 2008). To other professional disciplines this article explains the difference between each of us, yet can also express our relation to one another. The basic goal of all therapeutic disciplines is to better our clients life, through physical, speech or occupational therapy. Every discipline targets different goals, may it be body mechanics, reducing a stutter or buttoning a shirt, at the end of the day our clients well being may it be through science, art or both is all that matters. To the occupational therapy field this article means progress for what we do. Reading this article today in the year 2015 did not seem like old information to me, it is still relevant, I am proud that our field is not only evolving with contemporary time but it is also maintaining its
There are numerous guidelines and models used to assist Occupational Therapy (OT) practitioners in practice. A prevalent frame of reference used is the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO). MOHO was written in part by Gary Kielhofner with contributions from two other authors. According to the MOHO article, this frame of reference’s main emphasis was to interrelate various themes of occupational therapy behavior into a framework that could be used as a guide for practice. Additionally, it’s a tool used by practitioners to shape how its theory is functional and can be applied to clients and their occupations. This model was initially an outline submitted in an unpublished master’s thesis in 1975. After further revision and experimentation of research, it was then published five years later.
For thousands of years people have practiced mediation for spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Albeit there are many mediation types, in this paper I will be discussing and focusing on mindfulness mediation. Before further exploring mindfulness mediation, it is crucial to define mediation as a whole. Tang, Holzel, & Posner, 2016 state “Meditation can be defined as a form of mental training that aims to improve an individual’s core psychological capacities, such as attentional and emotional capacities” (p.213). Having that in mind, we can dive into mindfulness mediation. Mindfulness meditation is defined as “nonjudgmental attention to present-moment experiences (Tang, Holzel, & Posner, 2016).” A useful analogy to consider is going to the gym, going to the gym allows one to enhance the body, well similarly, practicing mindfulness is akin to taking the mind to the psychic gym, it enhances it. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on your breathing and then bringing your mind’s attention to the present all while dismissing discursive thoughts and maintaining a special focus on breathing.
Occupational therapy (OT) theory offers valuable contribution to support professionalization since possessing a unique body of knowledge is essential to define a profession (Cooper, 2012). To utilize theory effectively, it is essential to differentiate between generic and specific theory as knowledge of the core theory helps to form OT identity and action as a practicing practitioner. In this essay, OT theory refers only to philosophy and OT specific models. Frame of references (FOR) will not be included since it can be shared with the other professions (Boniface & Seymour, 2012).
Mindfulness is a concept or practice that was founded nearly 2600 years ago. It is a very integral component of the Buddhist faith and is believed to be associated with many benefits including self-control, tolerance, flexibility, objectivity, concentration, mental clarity, emotional intelligence, kindness, compassion, acceptance, and equanimity.
Parsons, H. (2014). Occupational therapy’s role in the excellence in mental health. OT practice, 19(19), 6-7. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.southtexascollege.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1618146077?acountid=7069.
To begin with, mindfulness is when someone can pay attention to the present moment “without being devoted to different points of view” (Martin, 1997). Along with staying focused on the present moment, mindfulness is when the particular person does not judge the current experience as the person tries to comprehend the present situation. Mindfulness makes a person reflect on one’s self by not only figuring out one’s thoughts, but also the feelings that go along with it. The complex nature of mindfulness demonstrates that it has multiple purposes that cultivates a person into realizing the potential of the brain (Davis & Hayes,
Practicing mindfulness is something that most people probably have on their daily to-do list, but never getting around to it because they either don’t believe it’ll work or feel too busy with their lives to stop for literally just a minute to breathe. When going into this activity, my to-do is exactly what was in mind. It’s the list that is never completed. So, having this as an actual assignment was exactly what I needed to get a jumpstart on my mindfulness techniques in my daily life.
The realization of how important the value of occupation and health is in my own life inspires me to help others. I work on maintaining my own health by staying active and productive everyday. Being able to participate in occupations and activities I enjoy is what allows me to live a fulfilling and satisfying life. Occupational therapy appeals to me because it helps people overcome different obstacles, allow them to accomplish their goals, and participate in activities that are meaningful to them. Along with the physical component of Occupational Therapy, I have also observed the emotional, mental, and behavioral aspect of it. I have always been fascinated with the holistic approach Occupational Therapy takes when providing someone with individualized treatment. I believe physical and mental health is integrated, and it’s essential to look at the whole person in order to understand the needs of an
In the past two decades, many philosophers, spiritual leaders, and psychological transitions have accentuated the importance of the quality of consciousness for the maintenance and enhancement of well-being. One of the characteristics of consciousness that has been discussed in relation to well-being is mindfulness. In concentration with the psychology discipline, mindfulness meditation practices have been increasingly used to treat a majority of pain, stress and anxiety-related conditions and also, increasing well-being. The ideology of mindfulness meditation has core roots in Buddhist philosophy and other pensive traditions where awareness and conscious attention are actively cultured (Brown, Kirk Warren,2003).
Living in the present allows me to live and tend to my thoughts and emotions that I often suppress or ignore. Working as a school counselor, I think that I will use mindfulness to help students with anxiety, behavior problems, and depression. I hope to use mindfulness in the future as I teach students how to use mindfulness in their own lives so that they can exist in the present and connect their mind with their body. Through using mindfulness in sessions with students and possibly in the classroom setting, I will give them a tool to help manage and become more self-aware of the thoughts and emotions they experience so they can learn how to better tend, express and manage them. However, without practicing mindfulness myself I would not have understood its power in the work of my client’s