Where Does Mindfulness Fit In?

May 26, 2026

magnifying glass highlighting the word midfulness amid other mental health related words.Where Does Mindfulness Fit In?

Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans' lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. It plays a crucial role in reducing stigma, encouraging early intervention and fostering empathy and understanding.

One of the key objectives of Mental Health Awareness Month is to promote mental wellbeing and self-care practices for overall health. Mindfulness is a practice that can support mental health and well-being in numerous ways.

What is Mindfulness?

It is the awareness that arises from paying attention on purpose in the present moment without judgment.

Simple, right? Just pay attention!  It is simple, but not necessarily easy, and benefits from practice. The practice aims to cultivate compassion and fosters connection. Practicing in a group can be especially powerful.

A mindfulness practice can be both formal or informal. You don’t need hours of silence or a meditation cushion to start practicing mindfulness. Many people find short, consistent moments of awareness throughout the day just as powerful.

Mindfulness starts with the premise that as long as you are breathing
there is more right with you than wrong with you.

Mindfulness is a practice that encourages individuals to focus on the present moment, paying attention to their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment.

The cultivation of self-awareness can significantly enhance mental health by fostering a deeper understanding of one’s emotional and physical state.

Originally rooted in Buddhist spiritual and meditation traditions, mindfulness has been secularized in order to make it more accessible to all and has become widely accepted in modern psychology and medicine. Clinical research consistently shows that mindfulness reduces symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.

Jon Kabat-Zinn is credited with introducing mindfulness to the USA, particularly through his development of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in 1979.  His work popularized mindfulness practices in Western medicine and psychology.

Jon Kabat-Zinn likes to say that ‘mindfulness starts with the premise that as long as you are breathing there is more right with you than wrong with you”.

That’s a great place to start.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Research has exploded since 1979 and along with the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been incorporated into other evidence-based therapies such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP). In addition, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) itself combines mindfulness and emotional regulation training.

For those of us living with anxiety, depression or trauma-related symptoms, the mind can feel like a daunting place at times. Thoughts race. Emotions spiral. The past and future dominate our attention for the most part, unless we’re distracting ourselves in one way or another. Or trying to escape, one way or another.

Mindfulness offers a break from this cycle. It starts by guiding you to pay attention to your breath. The breath is the gateway to working with your nervous system and provide the opportunity to slow down, thus helping you to create some space and respond thoughtfully rather than reacting automatically to the various challenges of each day.

With regular practice, research has shown Improved emotional regulation, enhanced focus and concentration, lower levels of stress hormones, improved immune function, and better sleep quality. All of these, in addition to increased self-awareness and compassion lead to better decision-making and ability to navigate life’s stressors.

If you’re curious about mindfulness there are plenty of resources out there, whether classes, books or apps. Stop by “Choose to Recover Mindfully” on Tuesdays at 9AM PST for weekly mindfulness sessions.

Additional LifeRing Mental Health Support Resources

LifeRing Secular Dual Recovery Discussion Group

This email-based recovery resource is open 24/7 for those in recovery who also face emotional and mental challenges. LifeRing SDR is a safe place to discuss highly personal issues among people who may not share the particular problem, but who understand what it’s like to deal with life-limiting issues in addition to addiction. Whether the difficulty is depression, or anxiety, or some other emotional/psychological challenge, the members of this group will listen and respond with positive and supportive messages.

LifeRing Co-Occurring Disorders and Trauma Focus Meetings
All meeting names are chosen by the current convenor. 

  • Tuesdays, 1:00pm Pacific Time
    Crazy Talk –  Co-Occurring Disorders Meeting 
    Open Camera Meeting – Attendees are asked to keep their video-feed on
  • Wednesdays, 9:00pm Pacific Time
    You, Me, and ADHD –  Co-Occurring Disorders Meeting 
    Open Camera Meeting – Attendees are asked to keep their video-feed on
  • Thursdays, 4:00pm Pacific Time
    Strange Attractors – Co-Occurring Disorders Meeting 
    Open Camera Meeting – Attendees are asked to keep their video-feed on
  • Saturdays, 6:00am Pacific Time
    Trauma in Recovery on Saturdays – Co-Occurring Disorders Meeting 
    Open Camera Meeting – Attendees are asked to keep their video-feed on
  • Sundays, 7:00am Pacific Time
    Trauma in Recovery on Sundays – Co-Occurring Disorders Meeting 
    Open Camera Meeting – Attendees are asked to keep their video-feed on
  • Sundays, 9:00am Pacific Time
    Shine On You Crazy Diamond – Co-Occurring Disorders Meeting
    Open Camera Meeting – Attendees are asked to keep their video-feed on
  • Sundays, 3:00pm Pacific Time
    SOAR (Sober & Overcoming ADHD in Recovery – Co-Occurring Disorders Meeting
    Open Camera Meeting – Attendees are asked to keep their video-feed on
  • Sundays, 5:00pm Pacific Time
    Manic Sunday – Co-Occurring Disorders Meeting 
    Open Camera Meeting – Attendees are asked to keep their video-feed on

Catch a LifeRing meeting >>> 

There are times when you need more than a recovery meeting. We urge you to call or visit one of these crisis resources for help. Crisis Resources

Mindfulness Resources

Palouse Mindfulness

Mindfulness Center at Brown

Mindfulness Health Institute

Mindfully Based Relapse Prevention | Addictive Behavior Research Center at UWash

Free Meditation Sessions

MBSR 8-Week Courses

FREE MBSR Courses

Books

Apps

 

Guest Blogger: Ewa C!

Ewa is LifeRing's resident Mindfulness expert and winner of the 2024 Marcus Amazing Online Awesomeness Award. She is a long-time LifeRinger and is recognized for her unwavering efforts to make LifeRing a positive and engaging space for everyone seeking recovery support. From her original engagement as a LifeRing Officer and Regional Representative to her well-loved Zoom meetings and mindfulness workshops, Ewa is truly an incredible contributor. Thank you, Ewa!

Ewa will be presenting during the 2026 LifeRing Annual Meeting. Come say hello!

 

Help us help others. Your donations allow LifeRing to support new focus meetings
for people in recovery who also face mental health challenges.

Thank you!

For other ways you can contribute to LifeRing,
please consider being a LifeRing Volunteer or a LifeRing Convenor.