Page 103 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2015

An Ongoing Series

Mindfulness: A Fundamental Skill for
Performance Sustainment and Enhancement

Patricia A. Deuster, PhD, MPH; Eric Schoomaker, MD, PhD

ABSTRACT

The term “mindfulness” has become very fashionable few. Importantly, others promote mindfulness for per­
within the military and across multiple sectors of civil­ formance enhancement, 8,17–19 improvements in sleep,
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ian and first responder populations. Overall, the key and overall positive mental health. 13,20,21 What is mind­
concept of mindfulness is intentionally being acutely fulness? What is the evidence behind it? How can mind­
aware of what is going on internally as well as exter­ fulness be applied to and used by Special Operations
nally, without reacting. Mindfulness and the awareness Forces (SOF)? This article discusses the history, defini­
that underlies it are inherent capabilities that can be tion, evidence base, and application of mindfulness for
honed through training. As such, classes in mindfulness enhancing the performance of SOF personnel.
are being offered in many venues and medical clinics
are using mindfulness­based interventions for patients Historical Perspective
for a wide range of medical issues. The evidence behind and Definitions of Mindfulness
the benefits of mindfulness is extensive and instructive.
Importantly, evidence suggests that mindfulness can be Historically, the concept of mindfulness appears to have
helpful for many operational, leadership, and personal emerged from a variety of ancient psychological and
activities and is likely beneficial for enhancing resilience philosophical concepts, but it is most associated with
and overall health. Many current military leaders are us­ Buddhist psychology. In Western culture, its origins in­
ing mindfulness as a tool to better prepare for a dynamic clude “existentialism and naturalism in Western Europe”
and uncertain future. and “intellectualism and humanism in America.” The
20
appearance of the concept of mindfulness in many cul­
Keywords: mindfulness, performance sustainment, perfor- tures speaks to its importance in human psychology,
mance enhancement philosophy, and physiology. Despite its quasi­religious
or philosophical roots, newer neuroimaging methods
have demonstrated that mindfulness is clearly related
to activities of the brain and nervous system, not to an
Introduction
ethereal process or belief system. 22–26 The most relevant
“Mindfulness is the skill of being deliberately attentive features of mindfulness are awareness and attention—
to one’s experience as it unfolds—without the super­ two essential activities of our conscious selves. Many
imposition of our usual commentary and conceptual­ leaders of philosophical and spiritual schools, past and
izing.” In this quote, the “our” is us: we need to let present, believe that what separates humans from ani­
1
go and view our experience as an outsider. The term mals is our consciousness, 20,21,25 particularly the aware­
“mindfulness” has become very fashionable within the ness of self. Thus, the activity of awareness is an aspect
military and across multiple sectors of civilian and first of consciousness: we are self­aware through our physi­
responder populations. Wherever you turn, groups are cal and mental experiences. Every human being has his
offering classes in mindfulness and medical clinics are or her own distinct awareness and the capacity to be
using mindfulness­based interventions for patients for both self­directed and responsible to the sensations and
a wide range of medical issues. For example, mindful­ incoming stimuli of the physical body and the mind. Be­
ness is used for pain management, weight loss, stress ing wholly aware of our internal and external environ­
1,2
3–5
reduction, 6–14 and depression and anxiety, 15,16 to name a ments, feelings, sensations, actions, and thoughts is our

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