Mindfulness has been described as “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to things as they are” (Segal, Williams, Teasdale, 2013, p. 132).

“Mindfulness practice teaches us how to focus, expand, or redirect our attention. It teaches us to recognize when our mind is pulled away from the present and toward an imagined, feared future event or an upsetting episode from the past. Cultivating this awareness allows us to return to our focus on the present so that we can participate more fully in our lives. Mindfulness can help us notice the layers and nuances of our thoughts and emotions, which promotes a deeper understanding of our internal reactions and allows us to flexibly consider our options. Broadened attention also increases our awareness of the consequences of our actions and makes it easier for us to learn from our experiences.

A key feature of mindfulness is that it changes our relationship with our internal experiences. Although anxiety prompts us to turn away from uncomfortable and painful experiences, mindfulness allows us to approach them. Rather than judging some internal experiences to be unacceptable or loathsome, mindfulness involves bringing curiosity and compassion to all of our experiences. It encourages us to acknowledge that experiencing a full range of thoughts and feelings is what defines us as human.” (The Mindful Way Through Anxiety, Orsillo & Roemer)  

GETTING STARTED: https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/

Support for mindfulness:

Eight weeks to a better brain, Harvard Gazette

What meditation can do for your mind, mood, and health, Harvard

The Healing Power of Mindfulness

Meditation is associated with increased brain network integration, van Lutterveld, R., van Dellen, E., Pal, P., Yang, H., Jan Stam, C., Brewer, J. A., UMASS

Apps to help you Meditate:

Insight Timer

Calm

Headspace