People who engage in multiple contemplative practices—embodied somatic-observing, non-reactive mindfulness, self-compassion, and compassion for others—report higher well-being across several dimensions, including overall well-being and its constituent domains. This association is comparable to or stronger than the link between physical activity and well-being. The findings come from three large, culturally diverse cohorts in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hangzhou City, and New Taipei City, totaling nearly 20,000 participants. The results suggest that considering a range of contemplative practices, rather than just one, may better capture their relationship with well-being and that such practices could be valuable as part of fundamental lifestyle recommendations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people in California who engaged in contemplative practices—such as meditation, self-compassion, or compassion for others—reported greater resilience, more positive emotions, better stress management, lower distress, and were less likely to have experienced depression in the previous week. These benefits were seen whether practices were done occasionally or regularly. Over time, those who practiced little or none showed steeper declines in resilience and compliance with shelter-in-place orders. The findings suggest contemplative practices may help protect emotional and mental health during major disruptions.
College and university campuses reflect societal values and must adapt to changing norms. Since the 1970s, workplace health promotion programs have been common, but campus well-being initiatives often neglect contemplative practices. This case study describes Contemplation By Design, an initiative at Stanford University that integrates physical spaces and programs for mindfulness and contemplation into daily campus life for students, faculty, staff, families, alumni, and nearby retirees. The authors offer practical recommendations for designing contemplative practice spaces and programs based on this experience, aiming to provide generalizable, community-based well-being resources that can be emulated in diverse campus settings.