Mindfulness

What is Mindfulness?

I think of mindfulness as bringing your awareness into the present moment—having your mind fully engaged with what is happening here and now. It is about learning to observe your experiences with curiosity, becoming aware not only of the present moment but also of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. A key part of mindfulness is simply noticing what is happening without trying to cling to pleasant experiences or push away uncomfortable ones.

Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as "awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally."

Think about it—what do you do when you first wake up in the morning? For many of us, our minds immediately return to the last thing we were thinking about before we fell asleep or jump straight to the day's to-do list. Before we've even gotten out of bed, we can already be feeling stressed or anxious. Mindfulness is about practising the ability to gently direct our attention where we want it to go, rather than allowing our thoughts to unconsciously jump from one thing to the next.

Like going to the gym or developing any other skill, mindfulness is a practice that becomes stronger the more we do it. I like to incorporate simple mindfulness practices or daily rituals into my routine to help me stay present throughout the day. I find it especially helpful to begin and end the day with intention. How we start our morning and wind down in the evening can shape our mindset, helping us live more intentionally rather than operating on autopilot.

The benefits of mindfulness can vary from person to person, but they are well documented. Personally, practising mindfulness has helped me reduce anxiety, feel calmer, improve both my mental and physical wellbeing, and respond to life's challenges with greater calm and clarity.