Sociological Mindfulness

The definition of Sociology is the study of the development, structure, and functioning of the human society. The idea of Sociology is to go beyond the expectations and look ahead of the norm.  In Michael Schwalbe's story, Sociologically Mindfulness, he explains and teaches how people should be mindful of their surroundings. People lack to see how every familiar thing truly affects us because they lack the necessary kind of mindfulness. Mindfulness is more than paying attention, it is to see and appreciate its unique qualities. He gives the example of a person to not just being aware of and paying attention to somebody, but instead trying to see and appreciate their differences as a thinking and feeling being. When they are mindful of a person in this way, they see past the stereotypes and prejudices. Sociological mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to how the world works. We are all tuned-in just by being members of society and living, But to be truly mindful of the world, we must lean to see it for what it is. We must learn the ideas necessary to see what makes the world a unique phenomenon. He asks his readers what the purpose of being sociologically mindful is and he gives three intelligent beliefs. When one is mindful of his surrounding, they achieve a good life. One that society is peaceful, cooperative, and that everyone should receive equal rights. Also, no one should enjoy power and privilege at the expense of others. And finally, everyone is obliged to consider how their actions affect others. In succeeding on being mindful to the world, helps us see that the consequences of our words and actions often escape our intentions.Words are powerful; and can harm others indirectly, even if no harm was intended. Being sociologically mindful also means paying attention to the hardships that people face. If we understand how others circumstances differ from ours, we are more likely to show compassion for them and to grant them the respect they deserve as human beings. Every day people use sociology even when they don't know it. For example, when you interpret the people you meet and how you behave around them. We often fail to see and appreciate all of our connections to others due to our daily concerns for ourselves. Sociological mindfulness held us see these threads of social life and how they obligate to us. The main benefit of this awareness is that it can make us more responsible members of the community. As Americans and individuals of this fast-paced life, we learn that it is good to be self-reliant, to achieve on our own, and to look out for ourselves. This can blind us to our independence with others, and keep us from seeing how they can benefit us and the community. Everyone can try to enrich the lives of others by teaching, promoting health, or organizing for change. He ends this story with the question, What kind of mark do you want to leave on the earth for having lived? This story started my sociological thinking of life and taught me that if everyone were to have sociological mindfulness, the world would be a much better place.

"It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness." -Karl Marx