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A few weeks ago, I received a report from The Mindfulness Initiative, a policy institute, which documented the experiences of British politicians who have undergone mindfulness training over the past decade. Although I tried to approach the report with seriousness, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to mock it when faced with some eye-roll-worthy statements.
One Conservative MP confesses that mindfulness has made their meetings more efficient by helping them stay fully focused and avoid misunderstandings. A baroness claims that mindfulness might create the mental space for more open thinking, without implying it would turn someone into the next Greta Thunberg. The press release accompanying the report states that mindfulness training has enabled politicians to disagree better, engage in active listening, be more receptive to different perspectives, and react less impulsively in challenging situations.
The problem lies, in part, with the term “mindfulness” itself. It’s an unpleasant and unimpressive word, despite my personal commitment to daily meditation and other mindful practices. Not only does it sound like empty jargon from the wellness industry, but it also contradicts the intended meaning of paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and openness. Perhaps “mindlessness” would be a more accurate description.
However, this doesn’t mean that mindfulness is a bad concept. Research has demonstrated that members of parliament experience higher stress levels and poorer mental health compared to others in a similar income bracket. Although we may dislike the jeering and mud-slinging in the House of Commons, this doesn’t mean our representatives are unworthy of compassion. As Jamie Bristow, a former director of the Mindfulness Initiative and co-author of the report, points out, we often complain about our politicians while neglecting their need for support.
Bristow explains that mindfulness practices like meditation, breathing exercises, and awareness-building activities can alleviate stress. High levels of stress compromise the ability to process information, consider various perspectives, accurately perceive the world, regulate emotions, and effectively collaborate and act. These qualities are essential for those making national decisions.
Rory Stewart, a former Tory MP turned podcast host, emphasizes the detrimental effects of politics on mental, physical, and emotional well-being. He describes politicians as becoming robotic, losing their individuality, and transforming into slogan-spouting machines. Reflection and seriousness become increasingly challenging during times of divisive and antagonistic politics. Therefore, it is crucial to find ways for leaders to disagree constructively and empathetically.
At a time when public trust in politics is at a record low, authenticity is more important than ever. Bristow notes that populist figures like Donald Trump often excel at appearing genuine because they care less about the accuracy of their words and are less trapped in their own thoughts. Non-populist politicians, on the other hand, tend to be overly analytical, lacking an instinctual understanding of the desires and impulses of the emotional beings they seek to win over.
Here is where mindfulness can play a role. It encourages politicians to spend less time caught up in their thoughts, be less reactive, and make decisions based on reason rather than impulse. By heightening self-awareness, politicians can engage in better disagreement and improve the quality of parliamentary debates. Mindfulness also has the potential to reduce stress, leading to better decision-making and happier individuals in positions of power.
Tempers will always run high in public life, just as they do in private. However, it would benefit everyone if politics were less confrontational and more compassionate, allowing room for introspection and greater understanding.
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