Last Updated on November 16, 2024 by melissanreynolds
Ellen J Langer has a long history of studying and writing about the power of mindfulness.
I’m a big reader, huge. I read a lot of fiction and a lot about health, wellness and mindfulness. To find my current reads – see my Amazon shop page. Affiliate notice: Please note that some of my links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I shared on Instagram that I was reading this book and a couple of people asked for a review.
In The Mindful Body (2023), Langer explores how mindfulness can improve our health. In this context mindfulness is the informal practice of paying attention, in the present moment. Not the formal practice such as meditation.
It wasn’t until chapter seven, Placebos and Outliers, that I really engaged with the book. This is where the rubber meets the road with mindfulness and health outcomes.
Attention to variability principle
In chapter eight things get very interesting in the discussion of attention to variability. This simple method of noticing how symptoms change makes a big difference. In the chapter, Langer outlines many studies of this intervention improving conditions.
In one study in chronic pain patients,
“We found that paying attention to the variability in the intensity of their pain resulted in positive changes including significant decreases in reports of pain interfering in their daily lives.” P173
In discussing the variability intervention further, Langer states:
“When we have a medical disorder, there is a tendency to understand every ache and pain as arriving from the condition…when medical professionals mindlessly assume every symptom is part of the disease they’ve diagnosed or are treating, they give up the possibility of potentially influencing the course of the patient’s illness.” P179
Mindset
She discusses how important mindset is for both patient and medical professionals. The simple act of listening, hearing and understanding a patient is research proven to improve outcomes for patients.
“Four things happen when we notice the variability of our symptoms. First, we see that despite what we may have thought, we don’t have the symptom all the time and to the same degree, and that itself should make us feel better. Second, noticing change is mindful, and decades of our research have shown that mindfulness itself is good for our health. Third, we’re more likely to find a solution to our problem if we search for it than if we remain helpless and mindlessly presume there is no relief available. And fourth, we start to feel more in control of our lives.” P181
All encouraging things! After being discouraged to think about our pain, condition or symptoms, it’s actually a relief. How could we not when they’re so intrusive? Mindfully attend to what is happening in our body. Revolutionary. And also simple.
Try a formal mindfulness practice – The Body Scan Meditation FREE here
Catching mindfulness?
In the chapter Mindful Contagion, Langer discusses how mindfulness and mindlessness are contiguous. And the benefits for caregivers and patients.
“The research on mindful contagion suggests that one person’s mindfulness may increase another person’s mindfulness…we found a correlation between the mindfulness of the caregiver and the functioning of the patient…when caregivers start to notice small changes in the symptoms of the people for whom they’re caring, several things happen. They become more mindful themselves, which as we saw earlier is good for their own health. And when caregivers are more engaged and optimistic, their jobs seem a bit easier, and burnout becomes less likely.” P195
Summary of The Mindful Body
This was a great read. I enjoyed the author’s perspective as someone who’s been studying mindfulness for a very long time. I don’t think I will re read the book. You can check it out here on Amazon, on my shop page. But you could see if your library has it.
Have you read her work?
