Mindfulness can serve as a powerful tool to create more optimal wellbeing. The very end of the presentation includes a mindfulness meditation that is great for beginners. But before that, we'll quickly cover a few common questions about mindfulness: * What is mindfulness? * What are the benefits of mindfulness & mindfulness based practices? * Is mindfulness just a Buddhist or religious concept? * How do I practice mindfulness?

1. Week 1:
Mindfulness
ShermanProject.com &
ShermanProjectLite.com

2. It's not about
Naval gazing.
Let's clear one thing up...
What is mindfulness?

3. Definition from Jon Kabat-Zinn:
"Paying attention in a
particular way, on purpose,
in the present moment, &
non-judgmentally."

4. What does that mean... in real life?
"Mindfulness is a part of living.
When you are mindful you are fully alive, you are fully
present. You can get in touch with the wonders of life
that can nourish you & heal you. And you are stronger,
you are more solid in order to handle the suffering inside
of you & around you. When you are mindful, you can
recognize, embrace & handle the pain, the sorrow in you
& around you.... If you continue with concentration &
insight, you’ll be able to transform the suffering inside &
help transform the suffering around you."
-Thich Nhat Hanh

5. SOME BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH
MINDFULNESS-BASED PRACTICES:
IMPROVED COPING SKILLS
STRESS REDUCTION
IMPROVEMENTS IN DEPRESSION & ANXIETY
WELLBEING BOOSTS
ENHANCED IMMUNE FUNCTION
IMPROVED MEMORY
BETTER SLEEP QUALITY
IMPROVED MOOD
REDUCED PAIN
IMPROVED FOCUS & ATTENTION

6. Mindfulness: Is it just a
Buddhist concept?
[Answer: Nope.]

7. Many scholars link mindfulness to Theravada Buddhism.
However, many other cultures, religions, traditions, &
philosophies have investigated & applied mindfulness:
Native American philosophy
Yoga
Ancient Greek philosophy
Western European perspectives of naturalism
Existentialism
Jewish Kabbalism
Christianity
Chinese Taoism
Many other religions, indigenous traditions & philosophies

8. Mindfulness
is a human experience &
the truest expression of YOU.
The Short Story:

9. Mindfulness
evolves.
Begin your journey
by exploring &
integrating daily
mindfulness
practices that
uniquely resonate
with you.

10. It's Time.
Head to the next slide for the first practice of
your Sherman Project program...
ShermanProject.com ShermanProjectLite.com

11. References
Slides 4 & 5 Slide 6 Slide 8
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever
you go, there you are. New York,
NY: Hyperion.
Hanh, T. N. (2008). Transcript for
Thich Nhat Hanh on
mindfulness, suffering, and
engaged Buddhism. Speaking of
Faith/Interviewer: Krista Tippett.
American Public Media.
Chiesa, A., Calati, R., & Serretti, A. (2010).
Does mindfulness training improve
cognitive abilities? A systematic review
of neuropsychological findings. Clinical
Psychology Review, 31(3), 449-464.
Chiesa, A., & Serretti, A. (2009).
Mindfulness-based stress reduction for
stress management in
healthy people: A review & meta-
analysis. Journal of Alternative &
Complementary Medicine, 15(5), 593-600.
Davidson, R. J., et al. (2003). Alterations in
brain & immune function produced by
mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic
Medicine, 65(4), 564-570.
Eberth, J., & Sedlmeier, P. (2012). The
effects of mindfulness meditation: A
meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 3(3), 174-189.
Grossman, P., Niemann, L., Schmidt, S., &
Walach, H. (2004). Mindfulness-based
stress reduction & health benefits: A
meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic
Research, 57(1), 35-43.
Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M., &
Creswell, J.D. (2007).
Mindfulness: Theoretical
foundations &
evidence for its salutary
effects. Psychological Inquiry,
18(4), 211-237.
Carmody, J. (2009). Evolving
conceptions of mindfulness in
clinical settings. Journal of
Cognitive Psychotherapy,23,
270-280
Friedman, H. (2010). Is
Buddhism a psychology?
Commentary on romanticism
in “mindfulness in
psychology.” The Humanistic
Psychologist, 38(2), 184-189.