Mindfulness is a practice that we should all take part in, not only in times of stress but in our day-to-day lives. Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment through a gentle and nurturing lens – a way of befriending ourselves and the experience in which we are taking part in. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we are sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future by simply focusing on the moment that you are currently in.
What is the Teflon Effect?
Teflon is a synthetic chemical, or a non-stick surface, that is usually found on cooking appliances like pots and pans. The idea behind this is to imagine your mind as having that surface and allow intrusive thoughts to drift off of your mind in order to focus on one particular thing – hence, the Teflon effect.
Teflon Mind is part of the “Observe” portion of the mindfulness within Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Teflon Mind is intended to prevent emotional dysregulation, defensiveness, and judgmental responses and can be a very effective skill when you are amid and among others who are expressing powerful emotions.
How Does the Teflon Effect Work?
Mindful awareness is essential for learning to not identify ourselves with our thoughts. This non-identification means that we no longer believe the thoughts or take on board what they are saying about us. We see that they are just conditioned processes that are no more objectively true than anything else. Non-identification allows us to detach, disengage, and not get caught. Like Teflon on a pan, when practicing mindfulness and experiencing intrusive thoughts, we allow ourselves to feel them but not to stick.
Benefits of the Teflon Effect
- It helps you overcome overwhelming thoughts by listening to them and letting them pass with ease.
- By not taking your own thoughts personally, it helps you learn not to take the opinions and judgments of others towards you to heart.
- It allows you to become less judgmental and accept things as they are.
- It helps you defeat your inner critic by listening to it.