Mindfulness and professional practice: a generative dialogue

Abstract

Mindfulness, defined as present moment awareness, is quickly becoming a buzz-word in professional practice and education. This is particularly true in healthcare due to its potential as both a treatment and a professional development technique. I start by offering a brief examination of mindfulness in order to clarify and define the practice. I then spend time articulating how mindfulness might be generative in professional practice in five ways: enhances reflective practice, supports a relational view of self, increases access to emotions, makes intuitive and tacit professional knowledge accessible, and fosters care and compassion. Examples from my own professional experiences are offered as illustration.

Keywords:

• mindfulness
• reflective practice
• meditation
• professional practice
• reflective learning
• mindful awareness

Acknowledgement

Thanks are due to Dr Elizabeth Anne Kinsella for her thoughtful comments on early versions of this paper.