Mindfulness and sustainability have a lot in common: they’re like an umbrella that seems to cover a wide range of topics. Many of the trends and fads of our time fit comfortably under this umbrella. With this special focus, we therefore want to dive deeper and get to the heart of the matter when it comes to mindfulness. And let’s just say this up front: there’s a strong case to be made that sustainability could reach its goals much faster by riding on the coattails of mindfulness.
The term “mindfulness” has a magical appeal for some people: they associate it with the hope of taking a breather from their overwhelming daily lives, from the crises of our time, from obligations, and so on. For others, however, the alarm bells of esotericism start ringing loudly as soon as mindfulness is mentioned. That is why we are starting this special feature with a fact-check. We want to know what mindfulness has been proven to achieve. And whether those alarm bells are ringing for good reason.
It is clear that the roots of mindfulness stretch far back into ancient religious teachings. Pioneers of mindfulness, such as the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, have reinterpreted and revitalized these teachings (for example, in the form of “engaged Buddhism”) and brought their practices to the West, where they have been adopted in various ways.
However, you don’t have to be spiritual or religious to practice mindfulness. Even though meditation is an important part of mindfulness programs, it’s ultimately about the journey into the present moment, about awareness and genuine presence. And it’s certainly not about finding your personal guru. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a prominent co-founder of the Western mindfulness movement, never tires of emphasizing this point.
Of course, it’s a fair question to ask what mindfulness really achieves, all things considered. In this article, we take a closer look at the facts. It comes as little surprise that mindfulness has been shown to promote physical and mental health (even among prison inmates!).
What is remarkable—though still largely overlooked—is the fact that mindfulness has been shown to make us more sociable, more compassionate, and—surprisingly—even more environmentally friendly.
Swedish researcher Christine Wamsler provides evidence of this in her studies. In this interview, she explains why mindfulness practices and programs have highly desirable social and environmental benefits. So there is a hidden treasure here when it comes to sustainability—one that needs to be unearthed as soon as possible.
When it comes to sustainability, it is clearly about more than just outwardly visible changes to our world (such as changes in infrastructure or technology). Even on the “inside,” no stone will be left unturned, if“future alchemists”Julia Buchebner and Stefan Stockinger have their way. They call for: growing on the inside, making an impact on the outside. And they are convinced that by taking a step toward sustainability, we could climb the next rung on the ladder of human development.
Would you like to take a closer look at another aspect of mindfulness? Does mindful behavior make us happy? None other than Germany’s“Minister of Happiness,”Gina Schöler, tells us in this article why she has dedicated her life to promoting happiness (without any pressure!). She also shares her tried-and-true rule of thumb for more mindfulness and happiness in everyday life.
When it comes to happiness, let’s take it a step further. After all, it’s been proven that mindful eating also makes us happy. Some foods are particularly effective at boosting dopamine levels—cocoa, for example. Pastry chef Lara Jäger traveled all the way to Guatemala, the birthplace of cocoa, to learn how it’s grown and processed. Not only that—she also wanted to immerse herself in the traditional cacao ceremonies of Mayan culture. She now holds such ceremonies in Austria and Germany. In this article, she shares her journey.
Writing about mindfulness is one thing. Actually immersing yourself in it is another. That’s why we wanted to experiment for ourselves. To draw our own conclusions. But wait a minute. Why “we”? Because a mindfulness experiment is more fun as a team. That’s why eight mindful members of the Lampert team decided to try out various mindfulness practices for two weeks. You can read here about the unexpected depths of the moment this experiment catapulted us into—or rather, gently rocked us into.
One mindfulness practice has been particularly popular among many of the “guinea pigs”: Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing, based on Japanese tradition. In this article on the topic, you’ll learn what makes forest bathing so magical and why it’s an ideal gateway into the world of mindfulness, even for beginners. You’ll also discover why it’s so good for your health.
We hope you enjoy reading this mindfully, and—inspired by forest bathing—we’ll leave you with a mindfulness haiku (a short Japanese poem):
A magical light on the forest floor.
The song thrush is giving it her all.
Long live the moment.