Entering the room, a group of young college students sit around in utter silence, with their breaths being the only sounds. Prompted by the theme of the day — ranging from suffering and happiness to toxic thought processes and healing through music — the circle becomes a canvas for raw and unfiltered responses. This unique atmosphere encourages students to openly express their perspectives on life. These focus groups serve as a sanctuary for the expression of inner thoughts and emotions.
The act of sharing and receiving resonant experiences from others our age becomes a healing balm for the often solitary nature of our inner monologues. The communal exploration of themes like suffering and healing brings a sense of unity, reminding students that they are not alone in their journey. Can focus groups such as these heal our inner monologues? Why is the Mindfulness Club a beacon of fostering growth and stability?
UO senior and member Sage Wolf talks about her experience overcoming difficulties through meditation and mindfulness. “I think that mindfulness is a really crucial part of being happy because it allows you to have some distance from your internal monologue, which gives you more power over your own perspective. It gives you more power in your life and gives you a moment before you react to your internal and external reality,” Wolf said.
The practice of mediation is thousands of years old, discovered by monks in India, being one of the most ancient practices. The benefits of meditation include relieving stress, feeling grounded, being concentrated and tuning out the outside world. To surrender your thoughts and issues in a matter of minutes for a brief moment of silence can be an extremely difficult concept.
Founder of the club, Jacob Drum stated “I get the privilege of holding this space where we accept everyone [and] where everyone gets to be accepted as their real self. Because of this, we have powerful conversations that connect us on a deeper level,” Drum said.
“I’d have to say that what we have going here is something bigger than all of us. It’s something that has a life of its own, given life by all of the individuals that comprise it.” Drum said.
These students stand out each in their own way. Each one of them does a phenomenal job at not only articulating their own emotions, but simultaneously validating the emotions of others, a skill that many don’t always obtain –– especially at such a young age. The beauty of getting together with like-minded people is therapy in its own way, an experience that is so unique to the college experience.
The group concludes their meeting with a 15 minute quiet meditation session. The University of Oregon Mindfulness Club held its final meeting before Thanksgiving break at Anstett Hall on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 22, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)
