How Mindfulness Meditation Leads to More Ethical Decisions

Often times we make decisions contrary to our personal values because of a biased rationalization that best serves our extrinsic desires in a particular situation. Through this rationalization process, we find a way of convincing ourselves that our actions are ethical although our instincts originally told us otherwise. What is the purpose of any moral premise if we will find a way to trick ourselves into perceiving an unethical decision as being ethical? I once heard a coworker justify cheating on his spouse with verses from the bible that he obviously removed from context to suit what he wanted at that time! Without introspection, it can be easy to distort any situation, like when politicians use rhetoric to say something that if said in other terms would outrage the public. 

Mindfulness can help to remove personal biases derived from extrinsic desires and bring one to the source of our intrinsic values. It may seem obvious enough, but what exactly is mindfulness? Kabat-Zinn (1994) defines it as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” Mindfulness meditation can help to engage emotions, facilitate introspection, and increase awareness and attention. Among the many great spiritual and health benefits of meditation, those who practice regularly feel more aligned with personal values which positively influences the way that we respond to ethical issues. 

Personal values interact with this mindful approach to ethics in the sense that they are all intrinsic in nature and mindfulness meditation helps to keep us internally focused. Wisdom, inner harmony, trust and honesty, purpose, and even freedom can all be found through introspection. None of these values can be found externally, although often times that is where we look. Even freedom is a state of mind. I personally find that the chains that bind me are not wrapped around my wrist but rather around my mind in my way of thinking. Those behind bars could develop a passionate argument about this view of freedom but I believe that “I” am not this body and the true source of what I call “I” cannot be bound my physical chains. After all, my body is just animated energy and my ego is a self-created perception. Letting go of these illusions I come to the conclusion that “I am,” being the only accurate definition of self that I can find to express my perpetuating experience of the present moment.

Interested in mindfulness meditation but don't know where to begin? Remember that there are many ways to meditate and it's important to find a method that you are comfortable with. As with anything, meditation takes practice. Click on the image below for more helpful tips on how to achieve mindfulness. Also, be sure to check out the video below for guided meditation to help practice. After enough practice, it will come naturally and you will find yourself in a state of zen daily. Remember, the present moment is all that there ever will be.

Click here to learn mindfulness techniques!

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