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What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is engaging with everyday experiences to be more present in the moment. Yes—it can be that simple! It all comes down to turning off auto-pilot mode and tuning in to the now. Instead of focusing on the giant to-do list in your head, mindfulness helps you focus on what is happening in front of you.
Jon Kabat-Zinn gives the benchmark definition of mindfulness: an awareness that arises through paying attention on purpose to the present moment, non-judgmentally.
This means mindfulness is a skill you can practice anytime and anywhere. And the more we practice, the greater our ability becomes.
Tuning into the present moment means letting go of thoughts or distractions and living the life before you. Living the life in front of you means the good, the bad, and the ugly—and I’d continue that list to say the joyful, the frustrating, the loving, the disheartening, the wonderous, and yes, even the mundane!
Why Meditate?
While mindfulness is an intentional awareness of what is happening in the present moment. Meditation is the practice that fosters mindfulness. The brain loves to spend time in going over the past or thinking about future. Meditation practices allow us to practice noticing what shows up, allowing it, and releasing it.
In my own life, a daily meditation has been key to dealing with stress—from the everyday to the circumstantial—and noticing how and when thoughts arise. I know from experience that a meditation practice can greatly help with healing, discovering your own inner wisdom, and inviting more peace into your life.
My degrees in counseling and psychotherapy have shown me the evidence-based research supporting how meditation positively affects mental health. This inspired me to get a certification in Mindfulness Mentorship from Banyan studying under Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield to share the positive impacts with my clients in all walks of life.