On Being Mindful

What does it mean to be mindful?

Mindfulness is an ancient Buddhist concept that when utilized helps bring you to a more present and aware state of being. It is a very powerful form of meditation which encourages you to intentionally live in the present and to remove all judgment; to consciously be aware of all the processes it takes to perform a task, to eat a meal, to feel an emotion, etc.  It has been proven to bring relief to various health issues such as stress, chronic pain and illness (See How Meditation Can Make You Happier). Mindfulness meditation is a very important part of my life. Without mindfulness, I wouldn't have been able to overcome the anxieties and irrational fears I was plagued with for a significant part of my budding adulthood.

After spending the last two years diving into the world of mindfulness, I have come to develop my own meaning for mindfulness based on my personal experiences. To me, being mindful has come to mean:

• Having a good relationship with yourself. Caring for your physical health, mental health and maintaining a reasonable level of self-esteem while also being strong enough to experience humility.
• Being aware and accepting of others, despite any shortcomings you believe they may have.
• Taking your time and practicing patience. Not being so eager to rush through the days tasks.
• Determining the root of your fears and challenging them with rationality.
• Allowing flexibility in your life. Things rarely ever stay the same. The events and surroundings before you change from moment to moment. Making yourself aware of this helps prepare you for the next moment while allowing you to recognize and appreciate the past for what it truly was and the present for what it really is.
• Treating every experience as a learning experience.

The definition of mindfulness will be similar or different depending on your experience. But one thing is for sure: once you get in the habit of practicing mindfulness, you begin to realize how much of your life you have been truly living in the dark.

If you are interested in learning more about mindfulness. I recommend you read more from a very well-known (and my favorite!) teacher on the subject, Jon Kabat-Zinn. He is the Director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He has also written many books on the topic of mindfulness.