What is Mindfulness?
Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as, “"awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally.”
To be in the present moment and know what you are feeling in a fast-paced world full of stress that often pushes you to looking back or looking forward — that moment of mindfulness is truly a superpowered skill.
Think about it — have you ever found yourself parked at work and not really aware of your drive there? Have you ever eaten a snack and not really tasted it? Maybe you were thinking about something on your to-do list, a stressful conversation you need to have, or were simply distracted. These moments where we go on “auto-pilot” can also be called mindlessness.
First, I want to say that it is so normal and common to have these moments. We have so many thoughts it would be strange to be present for all of them. While it’s common, you may find yourself wanting to be present more often, feel more connected to yourself and accepting of your internal experience, or simply to move about your life with a bit more intentionality. If that’s the case, I encourage you to start a mindfulness practice.
What are the benefits of mindfulness?
Some of the benefits of mindfulness include:
the ability to be aware of your internal experience
to be in the present moment without judgement
with practice, it will give you time to pause and respond rather than to impulsively react to a situation or conversation
How can I start practicing mindfulness?
There are many ways to practice mindfulness. Maybe the most common practice you already know of is meditation. Meditation can sound formal and intimidating. You might find yourself thinking: What if I can’t stay still for long? What if I do it wrong? What if my mind never empties? To that I would say whatever you can do is okay. However long you can sit for (even if its 1-2 minutes to start - is great! And, if your mind never empties that probably means you’re human. We always have thoughts even in mediation — but I think sometimes in meditation you can have fewer thoughts and more awareness of sensation by focusing on breathing and your body.
Still, if meditation feels intimidating you can try out informal or experiential mindfulness practice. You can eat a snack and really savor the flavors and feel the texture. You can go for a very slow walk and just focus on how the ground feels beneath your feet. You can listen to a song and really focus in on it. You can have a conversation and really hone in on how your heart feels in the dialogue. These are all mindful moments, too.
Example of Mindful Walking
A first person view of a mindful walk through a neighborhood
Here are more resources on mindfulness to consider: