FOUNDATIONS BY JON KABAT-ZINN
Guided by NL MINDFUL
The Principles of Mindfulness developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn
are widely regarded as foundational influences within contemporary Mindfulness research and practice.
At NL MINDFUL, we explore these Principles in depth and engage with them as practical orientations for everyday life. Our approach is complemented by two additional essentials – Self-Compassion and Awareness – informed by international Mindfulness teaching and research, including contributions associated with UCLA, Oxford University, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the work of Neff & Germer.
The principles presented below are interpretations developed within the context of NL MINDFUL.
Principles · Jon Kabat Zinn
Patience
Giving ourselves time and space
Mindfulness invites an attitude of patience — allowing time for processes, developments, and decisions to unfold. Patience may contribute to a more conscious relationship with expectations, both towards ourselves and others, and can support a calmer and more stable inner stance.
Beginner’s Mind
Seeing things in their original freshness
Approaching life with Beginner’s Mind means meeting experiences as if for the first time. This perspective can help make habitual thought patterns and expectations more visible, opening space for new ways of seeing and understanding situations.
Non-Judging
Becoming aware of the harsh inner judging voice
Human experience is often accompanied by continuous evaluation. In Mindfulness practice, attention is directed towards noticing this inner commentary without immediately engaging with it. Non-Judging refers to cultivating a more conscious relationship with reactivity and allowing greater clarity in perception and thinking.
Letting Go
Clinging gives us a feeling of being trapped
Holding tightly to thoughts, emotions, or expectations can be associated with stress. Mindfulness encourages observing experiences as they arise and allowing them to pass. Letting go, as an inner attitude, may support greater flexibility and a more spacious way of relating to experience.
Trust
Trust in our own ability to meet life
Trust refers to confidence in our capacity to meet life as it unfolds, including challenging moments. Within Mindfulness practice, trust is described as an inner orientation that can be supportive when engaging with uncertainty and difficulty.
Non-Striving
When balance returns, action follows naturally
Mindfulness is not oriented towards perfection or achievement. Rather, it involves learning to relate to difficulty with greater care and awareness. Allowing space and time can make it possible to approach decisions from a more balanced and grounded position.
Acceptance
The willingness to be with what is
Acceptance involves recognising the difference between what can be changed and what cannot be influenced in a given moment. As described by Diana Winston, “the willingness to be with what is” does not imply resignation, but forms the basis for calm reflection, considered action, and inner steadiness.
NL MINDFUL · Principles
In addition to the principles outlined by Jon Kabat-Zinn, NL MINDFUL places emphasis on two complementary essentials: Awareness and Self-Compassion.
Awareness
Waking up to the present experience
Awareness lies at the centre of Mindfulness practice. Conscious perception can contribute to greater clarity in thinking and help make available a wider range of choices in how situations are approached. Awareness supports a more mindful relationship with everyday stressors and habitual reactions.
Self-Compassion
“With self-criticism we are both the attacker and the attacked.“ Neff/Germer:
In research, self-compassion is described as an inner attitude that supports a kinder and more balanced way of relating to stress and difficult emotions. Under pressure, people often respond with harsh self-criticism, which may reinforce negative thought patterns. Cultivating self-compassion offers an alternative, more supportive inner stance.
Japanese Tee Ceremony
A quiet sense of wonder
At NL MINDFUL, the principles of Jon Kabat-Zinn are explored in practical contexts. One example is the application of Beginner’s Mind through the NL MINDFUL Tea Mind Meditation.
The tea ceremony teaches us to meet each moment as if
for the very first time – with openness, curiosity, and a
quiet sense of wonder. In this spirit, we cultivate a morning
routine that is both alert and at ease, allowing the start of
the day to become a graceful and nourishing moment for ourselves– NL MINDFUL
Receive the Tea Mind Meditation:
contact@nl-mindful.com
→ Details Mindfulness Training
More Mindfulness · NL MAGAZINE
