Why you should try it
Mindfulness and heartfulness are practices that involve being present and fully engaged in the current moment while fostering a sense of compassion and openness towards oneself and others.
Why it works
Mindfulness emphasises awareness and being attentive to one's thoughts and surroundings, while heartfulness places additional focus on cultivating a compassionate and loving attitude towards oneself and others.
Evidence that it works
Voci, A., Veneziani, C. A., & Fuochi, G. (2019). Relating mindfulness, heartfulness, and psychological well-being: The role of self-compassion and gratitude. Mindfulness, 10, 339-351.
This study aims to explore the connection between mindfulness and heartfulness, elucidating their role in enhancing human well-being. The focus is on self-compassion and gratitude, seen as indicators of heartfulness towards oneself and others, respectively. The research tests how self-compassion and gratitude mediate the relationship between mindfulness and six dimensions of psychological well-being: autonomy, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, and purpose in life.
The hypothesis suggests that self-compassion mediates the association between mindfulness and several dimensions, while gratitude mediates the connection with most dimensions. The study, involving both meditators and non-meditators, supports these hypotheses, demonstrating that heartfulness, as facilitated by mindfulness, contributes to higher psychological well-being through a compassionate and appreciative stance towards oneself and others.
