What Exactly is Mindfulness?

My favorite definition of mindfulness is paying attention with intention in the present moment without judgment, and I like to add, and with a whole lot of compassion and self-compassion.

Our brains are wired by our culture to be constantly productive and because of that our minds are always living in the past or planning for the future. But studies show that a present mind, a calm and still mind, the opposite of what is commonly referred to as the “monkey mind”, is correlated with a greater sense of happiness and purpose.

Have you ever driven ALL the way from home to a destination and don’t even recall the drive? We often do things so mindlessly, out of sheer habit. We often live on autopilot, not making conscious decisions but rather falling into common habits.

So let’s return to paying attention with intention in the present moment, right here, right now, without judgement and whole lot of compassion.

And we call it a “practice” because if the ultimate goal is to calm the racing thoughts of the mind, we can’t assume just slowing down and breathing once will create grand change.

Just like if your fitness goals are to get strong muscle gains, you can’t expect huge results by going to the gym once. It takes repetition, and like muscles, the calmness of the mind grows in time with practice.

So take just a few minutes everyday to practice mindfulness

And just start to shift your attention to your breathing and breathing, knowing you are breathing in and as you breathe out, knowing your breathing out. Breathing in knowing your breathing in. Breathing out knowing you are breathing out. Take three more breaths, here consciously inhaling. Consciously exhaling, slowing down the mind with the inhale and softening into the present moment with the exhale. Inhaling nothing but the inhale on the mind. Exhaling nothing but the exhale, tuning your focus, slowing down the mind.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the day and feel a little bit more grounded and in the moment.

So take a few moments of everyday for a few moments or minutes of mindfulness and meditation, and if you’d like to work with me send me a message or sign up for my monthly inspirational newsletter at mindfulimpactwell.com/newsletters. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok. Stay happy, stay healthy, stay present my friends. Stay happy stay healthy. Stay present my friends.