Mindfulness has been defined in many ways throughout history. No matter what definition you connect with, there’s always a common thread or pattern in the various meanings. Let’s begin our journey by sharing several definitions.
- The Merriam-Webster Dictionary “The practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.”
- Wikipedia “Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment, which can be developed through the practice of meditation and other training.”
- Mindful.org “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”
- Mindful Awareness Research Center at the University of California at Los Angeles “Mindful awareness is the moment-by-moment process of actively and openly observing one’s physical, mental, and emotional experiences.”
- Author Sylvia Boorstein “Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience. It isn’t more complicated than that. It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is, without either clinging to it or rejecting it.”
The common thread among these definitions is that mindfulness has to do with paying attention and practicing nonjudgment. What does mindfulness mean to you?
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