A Definition of Mindfulness

We began this blog by stating what we hoped to gain from our investigation about mindfulness and what we hoped our blog would do for fellow students, teachers, and mindfulness participators. We have thus far posted information about some exercises that would benefit people of all ages. We have yet to actually define mindfulness and if we are to practice it, we are at least to know what it means to be mindful. Although it is becoming a popular practice not just in academia, but also on a personal level, many are still not sure of its definition.  So what is mindfulness?? Let’s consider the following:

The quote above by Thich Nhat Hanh is simple ans sheds light upon an important aspect of the mindful practice. Mindfulness is about being in the moment, in the present both mind and body, and having a full awareness of  thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. We have currently been reading Fully Catastrophe Living by Jon Kazat-Zinn and have learned that mindfulness is also defined by acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there’s a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. It is okay if we get distracted during the exercises. We are often living in the fast lane and it is difficult to slow down. We must not see this as a failure as mindful exercises can be difficult for everyone. We must simply bring our attention back to our breath, our thoughts, and the activity of the moment, gently but firmly. Remember, mindfulness is about bringing attention to the present moment and fully living in that moment in an attempt to see the joy, happiness, and meaning in our lives.