Studies have shown that living a mindful life can yield health benefits—but research into this burgeoning field is still developing. We need more data to define the strength of this connection and better comprehend the impact of mindfulness on public health.
That is why I am thrilled that the Harvard T.H. Chan School for Public Health has launched the Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health. The Center is poised to be a hub of scholarship, research, teaching, and practice, advancing our understanding into this critical field of study.
I was honored to deliver opening remarks at the TNH Center’s Inaugural Symposium and Launch Celebration; below are excerpts from that speech.
It is an honor and a privilege to welcome you all to the Harvard T.H. Chan School for Public Health.
I’m grateful to be here in this moment, surrounded by partners and friends, as we launch the Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health.
The timing of this new Center feels so right, because it seems that mindfulness is more important than ever—but also increasingly out of reach.
We live in an era defined by distraction. Our attention has been commodified by companies attempting to monetize our focus, and we have never been more accessible to our workplaces or friends.
But we cannot blame others for our own lack of concentration. The smartphone in our pocket is a powerful tool, but we have the option to leave it in our pocket.
All too often, we choose to take it out, and embrace the distraction.
We choose to not be present in the moment.
That choice has costs, and it is essential that we gain a better understanding of those costs.
We must better grasp consequences of our decision to either prioritize or ignore mindfulness.
Mindfulness, like public health, addresses a wide range of the human experience.
Mindfulness calls upon each of us to be aware of our present existence, down to the smallest details.
These are some of the building blocks of our lives, which are all too easy to overlook—but overlooking them comes at a price.
There is evidence of a correlation between a mindful life and a healthy life.
Studies have found that mindfulness can reduce chronic pain in patients who cannot find relief from traditional medical care.
There is evidence that mindfulness can help lower the risk of heart attack or stroke in Black adults with coronary artery disease, and slow or halt weight gain for women with obesity.
We also have data showing that mindfulness can support healthier sleep patterns for children, and ward off cognitive decline for older adults.
The state of research into the relationship between mindfulness and health is still young, but these examples tell us that mindfulness may impact more than our emotional state.
It turns out that the proverbial chicken soup for the soul may actually help heal the body, too!
That would be a real gamechanger—because if mindfulness can improve physical health, the potential is massive.
Public health researchers have devoted our lives to finding opportunities to support population health, but all too often our findings are constrained by costs or logistics.
Neither of those limitations apply to mindfulness. The practice requires no specific tools or products. It is available to anyone, anywhere.
No matter your age or race or gender or background or financial status, you have the ability to lead a mindful life—and potentially improve your health in the process.
Now, there is still more research to be done to determine the exact relationship between health and mindfulness—but today, we are launching a Center – a hub of scholarship, research, teaching and practice – to further explore those connections.
Already, the TNH Center has begun exploring the potential connection between mindfulness and healthy longevity—in which people live not only live longer but lead healthier and more functional lives.
The Center is also prepared to lead on mindful eating and the importance of exercise, including in childhood.
The simple act of teaching a child to be aware of what goes in their body can set up a lifetime of healthy habits—creating significant benefits for the individual, the society, and the planet.
I’m thrilled by the possibilities created by this new initiative, which will bring the Harvard Chan School’s rigorous scientific approach to bear on this nascent field.
The Harvard community will also benefit as a “living laboratory” for this work.
The fit is perfect, because Center’s focus aligns perfectly with the Harvard Chan School’s mission to build a world where every human being can thrive.
The proclamation that President Bacow presented to the donors who funded this project hits home today:
“We commemorate the establishment of the Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health to promote interdisciplinary research on the practice of mindfulness at Harvard University.
The extraordinary generosity of the [donor] positions Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University at the forefront of efforts to advance the science of mindfulness by providing enduring leadership and research support.”
That’s it right there. The TNH Center will put the Harvard Chan School at the forefront of this valuable work. That’s an accomplishment worth celebrating.
And it is only fitting that the Center bears the name of Thich Nhat Hahn, because the idea for Harvard to create this entity originated with him.
The seed for the Center was planted in 2013, when Thay, as Thich Nhat Hanh was known by his community and students, visited Boston and suggested the concept to Harvard Chan School faculty members Walter Willett and Lilian Cheung. Today, that vision is realized—with both Walter and Lilian as key leaders in the effort.
The Center is a testament to Thay’s impact on so many—and a sign of how his legacy continues to remind us all of the benefits of being present in the now.
As we prepare for a day of thoughtful reflection and conscious presence, it only feels right to close with one of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings.
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness,” Thay said. “If you are attentive, you will see it.”
As I stand here before all of you today, I see the joy.
I see the happiness.
I see the opportunity before us to marry two valuable but long undervalued practices:
(1) to use the Harvard Chan School’s expertise to better understand the impact of mindfulness, and
(2) to use mindfulness to further the Harvard Chan School’s mission.
I am grateful to be here with you all, and I look forward to learning what you have to teach.
Thank you.
