Later this week, I’m excited to connect with over 300 educators, therapists, and professionals at the annual Bridging The Hearts and Minds of Youth conference in San Diego, CA. I will be leading a workshop focusing on mindfulness practices for marginalized teens—young people facing challenges like trauma, poverty, substance abuse, community violence, and oppression. As I prepare for this workshop, I’ve been reflecting on a fundamental question: Why is mindfulness truly a valuable skill for young people to develop? This post will share some of my thoughts on why mindfulness stands out as one of the most important skills to learn for teenagers today.
The Power of Response: A Key Skill for Personal Growth
In my previous articles, I’ve defined mindfulness as “the ability to be aware of your present experience—thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations—without immediate reaction or judgment.” For the teens I work with daily, this ability to pause and observe before acting is arguably the most impactful benefit of learning mindfulness. While a strong, trusting relationship is the foundation of my work, mindfulness techniques empower young people to choose a response instead of simply reacting.
I explain the difference between reacting and responding in simple terms that resonate with my clients: reacting is “acting without thinking,” while responding is “thinking before acting.” This distinction is crucial for them to grasp the value of mindfulness. Learning to pay attention to their breath, physical sensations, and thoughts, especially in moments of conflict, creates a space—a pause—where their usual pattern might be to react impulsively, often with aggression. For some of the youth I support, mindfulness can be a crucial tool in preventing physical aggression, which can have life-altering consequences, from involvement in violence and the justice system to even loss of life.
My 2012 research study explored the effects of mindfulness interventions with incarcerated youth. One young participant described a significant shift in his behavior after learning mindfulness:
“Very first time I started meditation I was just the type a dude that just really, didn’t care and I hit somebody if they was talking mess, but, for me being in this class, it taught me how to control myself … and when I’m calmed down and I’m thinking, I will think about the whole problem, and just solve it throughout the day, and meditate.”
Another young man shared a similar experience:
“Now I think twice about something. If somebody called me something, instead of swinging, I could take back a second and think about my consequences I might get … it [mindfulness] makes you think about, ‘are you sure you want to do this? Or you want to react that way?’ It just helps me a lot.”
Developing the ability to respond rather than react is particularly vital for teenagers because of their ongoing brain development. Research indicates that the prefrontal cortex, the brain region responsible for executive functions like self-regulation and decision-making, continues to mature well into a person’s late twenties. This neurological context underscores why mindfulness training is so beneficial for teens; it provides them with tools to manage their emotions and choose thoughtful responses instead of impulsive reactions, especially during a developmental stage where their brains are still maturing.
Viktor Frankl, a renowned psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, eloquently captured this concept:
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
This quote resonates deeply because it highlights both the possibility of choice and the potential for personal development inherent in mindfulness practice. Countless young people I’ve worked with have shared stories similar to the quotes above, describing how mindfulness has contributed to increased self-esteem, a stronger sense of authenticity, improved relaxation, and enhanced self-care practices, among many other positive outcomes. For the young people facing significant life challenges, the initial appeal of mindfulness often lies in its practical benefits, starting with the understanding that choosing a response over a reaction can be life-saving.
While the ability to respond thoughtfully is a primary benefit, mindfulness offers a wide range of advantages for teenagers. My aim here was to emphasize the core intention that guides my workshop preparation—highlighting why mindfulness is truly one of the Good Skills To Learn for youth today.
Further Resources for Mindfulness with Young People
Trainings
Books—General Work with Youth
Books –Mindfulness-Based Curricula
Books—For Teens
Related Posts on using mindfulness in your work with youth:
3 Tips for Using Mindfulness in Substance Abuse Treatment with Adolescents
3 Ways Mindfulness Can Help in Crisis Situations
10 Essential Guidelines for Teaching Meditation to Trauma-Impacted Youth
Three Dangerous Misunderstandings About Mindfulness
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