ABSTRACT
A Western conception of mindfulness, spearheaded by Langer and colleagues' work on mindlessness and choice, stands in sharp contrast to Eastern and Eastern-derived approaches in its de-emphasis of meditative practices as tools for attaining a mindful state of well-being. Western conceptions reinforce a more flexible process of attending to novelty and variability as an avenue for increasing control over one's internal and external environments. Langer and colleagues' work on mindfulness was conducted almost entirely within a Western scientific and social psychological perspective, without any reference to Eastern spiritual thought and practice. Variability spans the terrain of life. Natural climate variability causes some days to be warmer or drier than others while genetic variation promotes a diversity of species. Within-species human variation creates individuals of differing physiques, skin tones, temperaments, and behavioral predispositions. Mindful and mindless evaluations of the natural variabilities found in the world can either bolster or hinder the quality of life experiences, respectively.
