A Metacognition Based 8 Pillars Mindfulness Model and Training Strategies

Abstract

Oxidative stress, mental and mood disorders, premature ageing, cognitive impairments, learning disabilities are just some of the emerging threats of the 21^st century. The next generation of educators, students, business leaders, employees, therapists, and parents are required to adapt in the era of rapid change and climate change developing new skills as well as adopting daily sustainable habits. An increasing number of studies are revealing the positive effects of mindfulness training in all dimensions of human existence bodily, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Nevertheless, there is a research gap regarding the pillars of mindfulness. The present work proposes a mindfulness model based on the potential principles and the mechanisms of metacognition. Adopting a holistic self-development view, we present the fundamental pillars of mindfulness as well as their underlying operations. Each pillar is framed by a number of techniques that help us to cultivate certain metacognitive abilities and qualities, leading us gradually to the higher levels of self-organization, intelligence and consciousness. We highlight the positive effects of mindfulness training on anti-ageing, stress reduction, neuroplasticity, brain rewiring, hormonal homeostasis.