Probing Question: What is mindfulness? Ancient wisdom tells us
to "stop and smell the roses" and to "live for the moment."
Given our busy lives, it's no surprise that this advice is often
easier said than done. Many of us multitask not only our
physical chores, but our mental ones as well. Says Douglas
Coatsworth, Penn State associate professor of human development
and family studies, this type of mental multitasking can
distract our attention from some of the most important things in
life. Most of us have driven somewhere in an automobile while so
deep in thought that we barely remember the journey, notes
Coatsworth. This is a good metaphor for the effect of mental
distractedness on the journey of life, including our
relationships with those closest to us, he explains. "We think
that being mindful -- which simply means bringing your attention
to what's happening in the present moment -- can have a
profound, positive impact on interpersonal relationships," says
Coatsworth, whose research focuses on the effect