THE MIND
LIFE OF THE MINDFUL
What it takes to pursue well-being .
BY LARA SANLI ’ 21
MINDFULNESS IS HAVING A MOMENT right now — but what exactly is it ? According to psychology professor Karen Dobkins , PhD ’ 92 , who teaches a class on mindfulness and mental well-being , the answer is multifaceted : “ Sometimes I say it ’ s freedom from suffering . Sometimes I say it ’ s awareness . Sometimes I say it ’ s loving all of it — the good , the bad and the ugly .”
But if she had to give one answer , Dobkins says it ’ s “ cutting through the storytelling to get clear on what ’ s happening inside you . It ’ s not about being happy , it ’ s about being at peace .” And one thing she ’ ll always say is that it is extremely valuable in helping people improve their quality of life . Especially in the modern age , and especially for the modern student , mindfulness is more important than ever .
“ When I was on campus 25 years ago , there was a lot of camaraderie , curiosity and excitement . Grad students met up at the Pub ; it really felt like the time of our lives . But students today seem so worried about the future that they can ’ t enjoy the present moment ,” Dobkins says . “ They can ’ t take in the experience that they ’ re having because they ’ re thinking about the next step .”
She describes having a wake-up moment six years ago , when she realized that she was no longer truly fulfilled by her neuroscience research , but instead sought to answer the many questions she had about mental well-being . So she took a risk on a mid-career shift , starting fresh with no publications or research history , just a commitment to seek personal fulfillment in her work and answers to the questions she really cared about .
Dobkins now leads a lab on mindfulness , where a significant portion of her research efforts study the mental health of undergraduates . She also started a Learning Sustainable Well-Being effort on campus , with the ultimate goal to implement a mandatory 1-unit mental wellness course into the undergraduate general education curriculum .
She has tested the concept by teaching the class “ Principles of Clarity ,” an interactive mindfulness seminar to help students improve their well-being . The class has thus far been enlightening and rewarding for both Dobkins and her students . Student surveys report strong bonds that allow for vulnerability , interaction , and personal development . And Dobkins says the connections made with her students around this subject make starting fresh all the more worthwhile .
“ One thing I would say is it ’ s never too late to change your career , to change your path . But you have to be willing to constantly ask yourself , does this path have heart ?” she says . “ And if the answer is no , you have to trust that you have to get off that path and you ' ve got to find another one .”
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