According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of mindfulness-based stress reduction, "Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally, in the service of self-understanding and wisdom." Mindfulness is the practice of staying present with compassion and curiosity, beginning with neutral experiences like our breath, eventually building our practice so that we can present to life's most challenging emotions and respond with grace and courage.
Mindfulness practice helps us fully engage with life, noticing each moment as it happens. It involves developing psychological flexibility—the ability to shift our focus, whether it's inward, outward, broad, or specific. For example, if you're feeling overwhelmed, you might pay attention to your surroundings using your five senses.
Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. Are you feeling stuck ruminating on the past or worrying about the future? Imagine you have strengthened your mindfulness muscle to the point where you can gently guide your attention back to this moment.
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