What actually is Mindfulness?

Yes I know it increases productivity, helps me be more engaged and more creative, reduces my stress levels … but what is it?

I’m asked this question often so here, I’ll answer it for you:

What is it?

This is my favourite definition below taken from Jon Kabat Zinn – Professor of Medicine Emeritus and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Creator of the respected MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) programme.

“Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally”

So Mindfulness is not about getting someplace else – but rather about being fully where you already are and realising the power of your full presence and awareness right now, in this presence moment.

We are not our thoughts. They are a part of us yet we spend too much time in our head all day in our thoughts and taking them way too seriously instead of just observing them (good and bad, highs and lows, negative and positive) and learning to let them go.

Instead of paying attention to them all day and being ruled by them it’s possible to actually pay attention to what is actually happening in the world around us, to our bodies, to others or to just be in silence, wonder and gratitude for all we have and all we are already!

My next post will give you some simple tips on how to achieve it …