From Doing to Being: The Transformative Power of Mindfulness in Modern Life
Atakan Yiğit, Fikret Gülaçtı
Gelişim ve Psikoloji Dergisi January 2, 2026 DOI: 10.51503/gpd.1822640 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Transformative learning Power physics Process computing Cognition Psychological resilience Psychotherapist Focus optics |
| Key points | Argues that mindfulness, grounded in intention, attention, and attitude, enhances self-awareness, emotion regulation, and resilience while reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, and is increasingly applied across multiple settings. |
Abstract
Mindfulness is a cognitive and attitudinal process that enables individuals to focus on their present experiences and accept them without judgment. It involves awareness of emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations, grounded in three essential components: intention, attention, and attitude. Intention defines the purpose of the practice, attention fosters present-moment awareness, and attitude reflects openness, kindness, and acceptance toward one’s experiences. Seven core attitudes, non-judgment, patience, beginner’s mind, trust, non-striving, acceptance, and letting go, strengthen one’s ability to remain present and promote emotional flexibility. Mindfulness can be cultivated through both formal practices such as meditation, body scanning, and breathing exercises, and informal practices such as mindful walking or eating. Research demonstrates that mindfulness enhances self-awareness, emotion regulation, self-compassion, and psychological resilience while effectively reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Due to its accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and wide applicability, mindfulness is increasingly used across education, counseling, healthcare, and organizational settings. This study examines mindfulness from its theoretical foundations to its practical applications, highlighting the conditions under which it most effectively promotes sustainable individual well-being.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- What does mindfulness really mean? A canonical perspective Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011