The last years have seen a tremendous development of mindfulness, including on the workplace where it becomes mainstream. It happens at the same time where our attention is increasingly diverted through various devices, notifications and information availability. This is not chance – I believe it is the symptom of a deep struggle. And it is a major issue that we need to deal with as we enter deeper into the Fourth Revolution.
Many mindfulness programs are based on the premise of mindfulness training whereby we take some pauses, cutting ourselves off from the demands of modern life for a few minutes for example by meditating. This regular exercise reinforces our ability to focus and manage our thoughts.
The question is whether this practice is sufficient, or whether it just reflects the need to find some balance. Shouldn’t we learn to manage our attention on a continuous basis, not just by taking some pauses off? Mindfulness should thus become an ongoing practice, and this will need to become ingrained in our way of life.
A major issue is that our children do not learn so much at school today how to deal with their focus and attention when faced with the multiplying stimuli of modern life.
Mindfulness is a clear symptom of a societal issue, and the question remains open if the current practices resolve it fully. I believe that more progress will have to be made to define how to deal with modern stimuli overload and find the practices that will be required by all in the Collaborative Age.
