Ep 18. Michael Baime: Mindfulness Master

Ep 18. Michael Baime: Mindfulness Master

“Mindfulness is a vehicle for experiencing what matters most.”

-- Michael Baime

Michael Baime is a professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and founding director Director of the Penn Program for Mindfulness.  Michael started the program to help professionals reduce stress and increase performance. Since 1992 the Program has trained more than 10,000 people in mindfulness-based stress management. An increasing body of research shows that it works. Michael has developed numerous courses on mindfulness meditation and mind-body medicine through the Penn Program for Mindfulness, the most popular being the eight-week course.

In this conversation, Michael explains mindfulness, an often vague and misused concept, so listeners can understand how it works and why it is so useful. Stew and Michael explore the practical benefits of mindfulness Michael has observed as director of the Penn Program for Mindfulness. Perhaps most important is that people find a greater sense of meaning in their lives.  Just as with physical fitness, the many benefits of mindfulness are available to all, but deliberate practice is necessary.  Listen and learn from a true master how mindfulness can enhance your work and the rest of your life.  

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Show Notes (times when new topics start)

2:15 - What is mindfulness. Mindfulness is both like falling in love and working out: difficult, but worth it.

13:15 - Finding meaning in the life you have. Hospitals are using mindfulness programs to help doctors become more engaged with their patients.

16:35 - Mindfulness decreases stress and anxiety.  The eight-week mindfulness course at Penn Medicine helps you let go of apprehension and worry.

23:30 - The power of healing environments. Social environments have a real and powerful effect on our health and well-being.

26:00 - Reducing distraction in the digital age.  There are ways to limit our exposure to digital distraction with the practice of mindfulness.