Mindfulness: What it is and why it's important.

Mindfulness is a topic that in recent years has become more mainstream. You may have come across this term in the news or in well-being articles and wondered what all the hype is about. Jon Kabat-Zinn (1994) defines mindfulness as: “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally.” When we do so, our minds are able to be fully present--“mindful”--of what we are doing or what is happening right here and right now. The nonjudgmental stance involves being an observer of and accepting what is, rather than labeling things as good or bad or trying to change or control what is occurring.

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“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgementally.”