The City Mindful: Commentary on “Mindful engagement, psychological restoration, and connection with nature in constrained nature experiences”

Abstract

This commentary complements Macaulay et al.'s thoughtful and valuable perspective by attending to some additional matters of theoretical, ethical, and practical importance. First, I argue for how consideration of multiple levels of complementarity between processes in mindfulness and nature experience allow more powerful integrations than building on apparent synergies. Second, I outline how an understanding of mindfulness as a practice and training can illuminate relationships between states, traits and values of equal relevance for human health and sustainable transitions. Third, I discuss some caveats and considerations in planning for mindfulness, pointing to insights that researchers and professionals committed to sustainable cities can gain from “McMindfulness” debates and other controversies around meditation before outlining some tentative ideas for how urban environmental design could support mindful living and mindful action.