I am thinking of dropping the M word

[Gareth]

In the articles that I have wrote for this site, along with the tweets that I write from the Everyday Mindfulness account, I often use the word meditation. I have absolutely no problem with this word at all, meditation is what it is after all. However I am starting to understand that this word has cetrain connotations for some people that may act as a barrier to starting mindfulness practice. I suppose that meditation can conjure up images of religion or mysticism, which would be enough to put certain people off I reckon.

You can talk about mindfulness without using the M word if you so wish - just call it practice instead. For that reason, I am thinking of dropping reference to the M word in everything that I write. I want this project to be as inclusive as possible, and if some people are put off by the word meditation, then why use it? What do you all reckon?

Gareth

[FeeHutch]

I think you could be right.

If I had been introduced to mindfulness as meditation in the first instance I would have been very resistant because I had tried and 'failed' at meditation in the first place. I also would have assumed the idea would be to empty my mind etc. As a result of mindfulness I have investigated secular Buddhism etc but you are right that there could well be a link in many peoples minds between mindful meditation and religious beliefs.

[rara]

Yeah, I am inclined to agree actually. It's "marketing" at the end of the day...and most religious/spiritual people should make the connection anyway. What do you think?

[JonW]

Gareth raises an interesting point.
In my experience people bring a lot of prejudice to the word "meditation". When I've mentioned to people that I have been meditating, they seem a little uncomfortable with the idea and feel the need to make supposedly humorous comments about Hari Krishnas, chanting and brown rice.
The word "mindfulness" isn't weighed down with such prejudices and pre-concenceptions. People are more likely to be intrigued by the word.

[rara]

Hence this website name...in fact, Mindful Everyday now seems to sound good haha. Ughhhhhh