According to the researchers, mindfulness can actually be a powerful tool for the crises we collectively face in the world: climate change, the rising cost of living, and violence, just to name a few. And the benefits of mindfulness, they add, have never been more important, “in terms of reducing suffering, increasing connection, and cultivating compassion.”

That said, the key to using mindfulness to help address these challenges “will be the ability to bring curiosity and compassion to current areas of tension in the field,” the team explains.

So instead of approaching mindfulness as solely a fix for making your life better, Marks says it can be used as a supportive practice to help people live well alongside the challenges of life, “while also helping them to think about how can we make the world a better place for all of us.”

And you can start simple, whether it’s being more mindful when listening to your loved ones, pausing before you give in to road rage on your commute, or starting a loving kindness meditation practice.

Whatever it is you do, it’s about using mindfulness in a way that not only benefits you, but benefits others and the world at large.