What is Mindfulness?
In our culture, there are varying perspectives on what mindfulness is and what it entails (cue pop psychology here). When I define mindfulness, I often pull a quote from Jon Kabat-Zinn in his description of the term:
“Mindfulness is the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.”
In the simplest of terms, mindfulness means to be present with openness and acceptance of what is.
It sounds pretty simple, right? In its essence, mindfulness is very simple; however, in context of how our human brain often functions and how we are socialized to live in this society, it can be very difficult. The human mind is generating thousands of thoughts a day, and we as humans have a very common tendency to identify with the thoughts that we think, as well as the feelings we feel. In other words, we view thoughts and feelings as a part of who we are.
But thoughts and feelings are not who we are. Rather, they are something we experience. And here lies a very critical distinction. When I teach mindfulness, I highlight the fact that practicing mindful living isn’t about eliminating thoughts or making our brains “empty,” but about shifting how we are relating to our thoughts.
For example, rather than identifying our thoughts, what if we were to instead understand them as momentary experiences? Just as if I am hearing a cricket outside of my window, or a car honking—the cricket or car sounds are not who I am, but things I experience. Our brains may be generating thoughts, which is its nature to do, but just like these sounds, thoughts that are things we experience. We also do not need to identify with them, or create more narratives/ stories around them. This is what typically creates suffering.
When we live in mindfulness, we acknowledge whenever these experiences come up—even the unpleasant ones—while recognizing the impermanent nature of experiences and of life. So we don’t fight them, or judge them. All we need to do is simply lean back and watch these experiences as they come up and pass, knowing that you are not these things. You are the You, the pervading presence, that is seeing and experiencing these things.
Mindfulness can be practiced in many ways (i.e., meditation, mindful walking, breathing exercises, etc), but the main goal in all of these practices is to dis-identify with thoughts/feelings/situations, orient your mind into the present moment, and expand an attitude of acceptance of what is.
An imagery and helpful meditation to use is to imagine yourself sitting by a stream of water, watching leaves float by you and pass. You are not the leaves; you are the you watching them. The leaves are your thoughts, and we can allow them to come up and pass.
“The moment that judgement stops through acceptance of what it is, you are free of the mind. You have made room for love, for joy, for peace.” - Eckhart Tolle
