Of course, the dog in the picture above has it right–sun and trees, absolutely in the moment and without judgement. The person? Judgements all over the place in that person’s mind.
That’s what mindfulness is–coming from the Buddhist tradition and beneficial to general well-being.
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment, aware of your thoughts, feelings, and environment without judgment. It involves paying close attention with acceptance, bringing about a sense of calm and clarity.Â
“Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.” The Buddha
Some key aspects of mindfulness include:
- Regarding what’s happening at this moment without getting lost in thoughts about the past, present, or future.
- Observing experiences without saying “good”or “bad”.
- Permitting thoughts and feelings to come and go without trying to change or resist them.
- Being fully present in the current moment, whether you’re breathing, walking, or eating.
- Center on yourself and others with compassion and understanding.
Usually, we’re feeling stressed about a thing that happened in the past or feeling anxiety about what might happen in the future. Only rarely do we focus on the present moment.
When our attention is continually somewhere else, we go through life automatically, never really seeing the fullness of life or ascertaining our own potential. Being mindful is about being present, bumping up our awareness, and focusing on the reality of now.Â
I would be remiss if I avoided concluding with the differences and similarities between meditation and mindfulness.
The differences between meditation and mindfulness are these:
- Meditation is a more formal practice than mindfulness.Â
- Mindfulness is a quality that we transport with us, but meditation is a practice that we purposely incorporate into our lives.
- Mindfulness practices can be done anywhere, whereas meditation often needs a particular, more specific environment.
Here are five similarities between meditation and mindfulness:
- Both work to hold us accountable for our thoughts.
- Both demand us to sharpen our focus and concentration.
- Both work to help us find peace and relaxation.
- Both upgrade our self-knowledge.Â
- Neither needs a specific amount of time we must practice them each day.
Remember: Recovery is a journey, not a destination. The important thing is to find whatever works for you, your special bond to that calm place where you can become mindful, pay attention to your heart, and rekindle your inner being repeatedly.
Namaste.
