This is what 'mindfulness' really is

When discussing mindfulness it is important not to mistake written definitions with the real experience. Watch to find out more...

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When it comes to it, the definition of the word 'mindfulness', has little to do with the real experience...

I've pondered the question 'What is mindfulness?' a lot in my life...

It can be approached from an intellectual perspective by looking up a definition in a dictionary. We can also borrow the definition of an expert, someone like Jon Kabat Zinn - 'Mindfulness is paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.' 

In reality, what mindfulness really is, is something that each of us discovers personally, over time, as we practice. 

Additionally, most of us intuitively know what being mindful truly means. So, mindfulness is not something that you do, have or become. It is the most natural state for an evolved mind. 

It involves a degree of open awareness, which embraces an knows what's going on. Additionally, it is grounded in the present moment. If I were to ask you to recall what you were thinking about  - this is memory. If I were to ask you to imagine what you'll be doing tomorrow - this is imagination. 

Mindfulness, on the other hand is grounded in the only time dimension, which can be said to exist... The NOW - the everlasting present moment. The only things that we can really be aware of in the present moment are the things that come through the five senses of the body - sight, sound, smell, touch, hearing. By definition, then, mindfulness has a lot to do with the immediate and unadulterated physical experience of your body, as it is, right now. 

I suspect this is one of the key reasons why most mindfulness courses, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), always start with the body scan. This allows us to clearly understand and start differentiating between thinking, imagining, and being fully present. The easiest way to connect to the present moment is by bringing your awareness to your own body. 

Use your own experience and your own practice to find out what mindfulness means to you.

If you haven't already done so, you can consider signing up for my free 'practical mindfulness' online course here.

If this resonates with you and you want to speak with me or work with me, get in touch.

Thanks for watching or reading and remember to BE.