What is Mindfulness? A simple Mindfulness Definition is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment. To answer the What is Mindfulness? question in more detail; it is the act of focusing our attention, without any judgement, entirely in the present moment on our emotional state and bodily sensations. This can be called Mindfulness Practice or Mindfulness Meditation.
There are many different mindfulness practices. Mindfulness of breath is one such practice. We tune into our breath as it enters and leaves our bodies and keep returning our attention to the sensations of the breath each time we notice that our mind has wandered away from the intended focus on the breath.
Through Mindfulness Practices we can learn to become ‘curious observers’ of ourselves, able to observe our thoughts, feelings and sensations as they come and go. Where our frequent worries and concerns may have previously affected our mood, through Mindfulness we learn to see them as just another thought; only as valid as we choose to make them. This re-perception forms the basis of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) which can help to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
MBCT combines Mindfulness Practices, Cognitive Therapy & Yoga to help people who suffer from depression, anxiety and chronic unhappiness.