My Research

In our contemporary society, mindfulness-based practices are becoming popular to include in a child’s education to combat the stresses of being a student. This study uses definitions of mindfulness-based practices recorded by Rochester area high school students and interviews with local teachers to examine perceptions of mindfulness. Overall, this study found four common myths that people hold about mindfulness in general. The data revealed that many people believe that mindfulness is extrinsic, some believe mindfulness is about having an empty mind, a few believe that mindfulness is synonymous with bliss, while some implied that mindfulness is a casual activity by lacking a subject in their definitions. These findings suggest that mindfulness is still not widely understood by teachers and students. This research cautions teachers to experiment with mindfulness-based practices on a personal level before bringing them into the classroom to ensure accuracy and authenticity.