Mindfulness is awareness of relevant information

Abstract

Mindfulness is awareness of relevant information. Constant sensory input without the proper means of handling it leads to a fragmented, less effective human being. A focused, mindful person understands what information is most important to their goal and pays attention to their own actions.

This is an essential topic in peacemaking because the process involves many distractions which become injurious when they detract attention from productive information at hand. Mindfulness entails practice because there are so many variable at hand. On one hand you have the information itself- a sound, sight, thought, anything. On the other, you have the act of being mindful itself, which needs to be fostered individually as well as in consideration of the situation and information at hand.

Mindfulness is necessary to lead a life that continuously flows, where one event connects and builds up to another. This is necessary and helpful in peacemaking because so often one needs to cross many divides without pause in order reach a peaceable conclusion. This can be seen in situations where one ill is addressed and then a break of focus or concentration takes place, which allows the hate and rage to rise up again unabated.