The Hawn Foundation - Mindfulness Education for all children of the World

What is Mindful Awareness?

Mindfulness is a state of being aware of your own mind, at any given moment. It means to pay attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and without judgment. (Source: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Founder, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction)

You’ve probably encountered moments of “mindlessness”—a loss of awareness resulting in forgetfulness, forgetfulness and a sense of living on auto-pilot. Sometimes minutes, hours—even days—can go by, and you don’t remember or feel that fully awake to what was going on.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We all have the ability to bring more health and wellbeing into our lives, simply by becoming more aware and present to the moment. Some people consider mindfulness a way to wake up to their lives.

Mindfulness is a path for cultivating awareness. The better we understand our own thoughts and feelings, the more we are aware—and in control of—our own behavior. Rather than judging and reacting what occurs in our experience, we learn to observe and respond.

It may sound difficult at first, but it’s not. Mindful awareness is simple and accessible to people of all ages. It isn’t something you have to get or work hard to achieve. It already exists in every one of us. All we need to do is pay attention to the moment.

Any activity can be done with mindfulness. It’s a moment-to-moment approach to engaging fully in your experience, whatever that experience may be. Talking on the telephone, cleaning your home, driving, working, or exercising—these activities can all be done in a mindful, attentive manner. Try it and see the difference it makes.

How does Mindfulness Relate to the Brain?

How you pay attention directly influences how your brain functions become activated. Brain activation, in turn, shapes the connections among neurons—the main cells in the nervous system (over 100 billion of which are in your brain!). By learning to pay attention in a mindful way, you can regulate the flow of energy and information in the brain, and by doing so, change the way your brain is structured.

In science, this is called plasticity, or neuroplasticity. It means the brain’s lifelong ability to reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences. Mindful awareness trains you to become aware of your thoughts and feelings, in order to change your neural pathways. By changing your focus, you can change the brain’s connections in a positive way.

Our minds have the power to choose where we focus our attention. Where and how we focus our attention actually determines who we are or who we become.

Why Teach Mindfulness to Kids?

Mindfulness education—also called attention training—teaches students to become more aware of their own state of mind, at any given moment. Teachers and parents recognize that academic success, as with success in life, rests on a foundation of social and emotional competencies. A growing body of research suggests that teaching children skills of mindfulness-based awareness, actually improves academic performance and bolsters confidence, optimism and enthusiasm for learning.

In addition to academic benefits, mindfulness education reduces behavior problems and enhances brain cognitive development and function. Teachers who have introduced similar programs report such dramatic changes as a 90% reduction in student detention, and a 59% reduction in office referrals for behavior problems. (Source: Community for Children, Second Step: A Violence Prevention Curriculum)

Through a number of surprisingly simple techniques, students learn to observe their minds and become aware of thoughts and feelings as they occur. With this awareness comes an amazing freedom that we all could benefit from: to disengage from negative emotions and behaviors, and instead, respond in a way that is positive and healthy.

In other words, the more we understand our own mind—no matter what age we are–the more in control we are of our own minds and bodies.

When kids become present to their own mind, they learn to understand themselves and control their emotions and behavior.

Benefits of Mindfulness Education

According to studies by leading researchers including Jon Kabat-Zinn (Founder, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), mindfulness-based techniques are proven to decrease anxiety, stress and depression, as well as increase resilience and optimism in adults and in children. Among the many benefits, mindfulness techniques may:

• Sharpen and ready the mind for active learning
• Train children to stay calm and centered, with sustained attention
• Give children more control over themselves and their choices
• Help overcome challenges of academic and peer pressures
• Heighten student readiness for academic performance
• Create a feeling of connectedness and compassion
• Increase self esteem, confidence and joy.

Don’t take our word for it. Click here to learn about scientific research that has proved the positive effects of mindfulness.

“Because the emotional centers of the brain are very connected to the thinking and learning centers of the brain, we know that people who are better able to control their emotions and moods are more effective learners.”—Dr. Mark Greenberg, Ph.D.