Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. It is a technique that involves noticing whats happening in the present moment, without judgment. Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens. It is a quality that every human being already possesses, and it can be cultivated through proven techniques.
Some key features of mindfulness include:
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Awareness: Mindfulness involves maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.
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Acceptance: Mindfulness involves paying 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.
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Cultivation: While mindfulness is innate, it can be cultivated through proven techniques such as mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness has been shown to have many benefits, including reducing stress, enhancing performance, gaining insight and awareness through observing our own mind, and increasing our attention to others’ well-being. It can help people avoid destructive or automatic habits and responses by learning to observe their thoughts, emotions, and other present-moment experiences without judging or reacting to them. Mindfulness can also help manage common mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and feelings of stress.
Overall, mindfulness is a way of living that brings awareness and caring into everything we do, and it can be practiced through meditation and other techniques.
