This slide presents a very important message for teaching mindfulness, and understanding how mindfulness is more than just present moment attention. It is very important for those who teach mindfulness to understand this.

The slide shows study results from 3 different types of practice done by adults in a smart-phone intervention program. All participating adults were stressed and those who practiced coping with stress or just observed their experience in the present moment (something called monitoring) did not show the benefits of mindfulness.

Only those who practiced monitoring and accepting experience had lower systolic BP reactivity and cortisol compared to the other groups. Accepting does not mean liking an uncomfortable experience or not wanting to make it better. Rather, it means not looking away or trying to avoid feeling uncomfortable or difficult feelings, being present and in touch with the whole experience as it presents itself. This study provides evidence that acceptance is of critical importance to well-being.