“Internet forums abound with people seeking advice after experiencing panic attacks, hearing voices or finding that meditation has deepened their depression after some initial respite.”

 

“Rather than removing the source of stress, whether that’s unfeasible workloads, poor management or low morale, some employers encourage their staff to meditate: a quick fix that’s much cheaper, at least in the short term. After all, it’s harder to complain that you’re under too much stress at work if your employer points out that they’ve offered you relaxation classes: the blame then falls on the individual. “Mindfulness has been grabbed in recent years as a way to help people cope with their own powerlessness in the workplace,” Davies says. “We’re now reaching the stage where mandatory meditation is being discussed as a route to heightened productivity, in tandem with various apps, wearable devices and forms of low-level employee surveillance.””

We wanted to offer a more practical look at the dark side of mindfulness, after yesterday’s academic research post. Today, if this is something that resonates with you, take time to read this article with several examples showing that mindfulness has limitations and does not work for everyone. The focus of the article on how mindfulness as a tool is being used to leave unsustainable work environments unchanged, whilst putting blame on employees for not meditating enough, is something many experience in the workplace today. Sometimes, the individual search for stillness and calm through mindfulness training is not enough.

An extra resource mentioned in the article: The Buddha Pill – review on Goodreads.

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