Mindfulness is described as a way to center us, calm us and make us happier and more present. Northeastern University religion professor Liz Bucar, author of the new book “Beyond Wellness: How Restoring the Religious Roots of Spiritual Practices Can Heal Us,” thinks of mindfulness in the opposite way. “Mindfulness drives me a little crazy,” said Bucar, laughing. Bucar noted that sometimes mindfulness means intentional, sometimes it means focused, and sometimes it is slapped onto daily tasks — mindful parenting, driving mindfully, eating mindfully, etc. “It’s everywhere, so it means everything,” Bucar said. And by that token, “It means nothing.”
Mindfulness, whose benefits are touted by CEOs, celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and LeBron James and social media influencers, has become part of the multi-trillion-dollar wellness industry. But its growing demand suggests that modern wellness may not quite be hitting the mark. Bucar also notes that, even if your mind is present and you take the correct supplements to optimize gut health, brain function and whatever new fad the wellness industry has chosen as its latest target, you aren’t immune to death, disease and misfortune.
