What is Mindfulness?

"Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally. This kind of attention...wakes us up to the fact that our lives only unfold in moments. If we are not fully present for many of those moments, we may not only miss what is most valuable in our lives but also fail to realize the richness and depth of our possibilities for growth and transformation."
- Jon Kabat Zinn (wherever you go, there you are)

"Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing. We bring our body and mind into harmony while we wash the dishes, drive the car or take our morning shower." - Thich Nhat Hanh

Mindfulness is an intelligent, responsive awareness to ever-changing conditions.
- Sangharakshita

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Mindfulness is the faculty of being more deeply present with our body, our thoughts, our emotions, and our actions. It is about inhabiting our lives more fully, and waking up to our life, moment by moment.

Practicing mindfulness can lead to very deep levels of relaxation, calmness, and inner balance, as well as to more effective coping with stressful situations. Mindfulness also helps us to respond creatively to pressures and demands, rather than blindly reacting out of habit.

Although many people automatically assume they cannot practice meditation or mindfulness, this is a skill that we all already have - we are all aware sometimes! - and we can develop, the same way one can develop a skill playing music, building muscle, or learning a language. Mindfulness is a way of learning to directly relate to whatever is happening in life, a way of doing something for yourself that no one else can do for you — consciously and systematically working with your own stress, pain, illness, and the challenges and demands of everyday life.

When we are mindful, we are moving...

• From acting blindly out of habit (that can cause more stress), to acting skillfully with awareness.
• From isolation to empathy.
• From being frustrated and trying to control, to trying to be aware, to be open to experience.
• From knee-jerk reactions to conscious choice.