Mindfulness is a practice of being aware and present in the moment, without judgment. It involves paying full attention to your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the environment around you. It is a way of living in the present moment with acceptance and openness. The simplest definition of mindfulness is maintaining moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the environment around us.
This means slowing down to really realize what you're doing and being intentionally more awake and aware at every moment. Mindfulness also means being open to whatever you are facing in the present moment. Psychologist Scott Bishop describes mindfulness as an “unelaborated, non-judgmental and present-centered consciousness in which every thought, feeling or sensation that arises arises.” Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the University of Massachusetts Stress Reduction Clinic, defines mindfulness as an “operative definition” that omits some aspects of mindfulness. Mindfulness is a complex term that names multiple, distinct but interrelated ideas.
It is important to understand how the practice can make you feel and influence your life. By practicing mindfulness, you can become more aware of yourself and your surroundings, allowing you to live in the present moment with acceptance and without judgment.
