What is mindfulness?

'Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally.' (Jon Kabat Zinn,  Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction programme).

Mindfulness is simply present moment awareness - watching, feeling and observing your life as it is happening.  We pay attention by simply noticing all the sensations and experiences that are occurring in the here and now - listening to sounds, watching our surroundings, noticing our thoughts, feeling our emotions, sensing our body - without judging or trying to change anything.  This noticing or self-awareness is known as the 'observer state' which can happen naturally when we relax, stay calm and simply notice.  Being an observer to our thoughts and emotions can allow us to keep some space and not get caught up in them; we can learn to allow thoughts and feelings to just exist, without needing to buy into them or allowing them to drive our actions.

So often we spend time judging or criticizing our current experience, trying to fix ourselves or the way things are.  We want things to be different, better, more secure, easier - we find ourselves constantly striving, trying, fixing and worrying.  So often our mind is worrying about the future or ruminating about the past.

Mindfulness offers a way of noticing thoughts and feelings in an accepting and balanced way.  With time and practice, we can notice anxiety when it arises, watching it come and go in its own time.  Released from the grip of the worrying mind, we are free to feel and observe the present moment, to find that it is not as difficult and scary as our mind was telling us.   Mindfulness helps to increase a sense of  mental resilience and well-being.

Mindfulness also helps when your life is going well.  You can live more in the present moment, be more focused and less stressed, kinder to yourself and those around you, more willing to forgive, have a greater enjoyment of life and connection to the world around you.