“Mindfulness” is trendy right now in some circles. But what is it? Jon Kabat-Zinn (https://www.mindful.org/everyday-mindfulness-with-jon-kabat-zinn/), who is the founder of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), says that mindfulness is “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally.” It is noticing sensory details, inside your body and wherever you are. It is being deeply present to your experience, rather than being preoccupied by outside thoughts.

A key part of mindfulness is being non-judgmental. So, for example, if you are noticing that you are feeling nervous, rather than criticizing yourself for the feeling, instead you would simply notice the feeling. You would notice the sensation it creates in your body and you would accept that it is the emotion of the moment.

Why would someone choose mindfulness? Let me tell you a story. Before my wedding, someone told me that, as they were walking down the aisle at their own wedding, they thought the words, “Be aware.” They found that they then remembered the details of the special experience. I had heard others say that, for them, walking down the aisle was a blur. In fact, for some, the entire day of their wedding may be a blur. Another friend said to “take a few minutes away on that day and simply watch the guests who are there for you.” When my wedding day came, I did both of these things. I now have clear memories of that day. It felt like time slowed down. I felt an appreciation that day, and now when I remember it, that I may not have felt if I had not practiced mindfulness. The people making the suggestions may not have been aware they were proposing mindfulness, but they were.

So, experiment with mindfulness today. Take a moment and look around. Notice colors, sensations, scents. Look at the smallest detail of the room you are in. Be aware. Notice the feeling you have in your body without judgment. Is it appreciation? Fear? Joy? Anger? Just notice. See if you feel a calming in your body. If not, it may be your body sending you information. What thoughts do you have?

It must be said that there are situations where mindfulness may be triggering. For some people, calm can make their body go into an alert state, perhaps due to experiences in childhood. Learning this about yourself can be beneficial. It can give you more information about who you are. It may be something to process with a therapist or through journaling.

What thoughts do you have about mindfulness? Leave a message. Let’s talk.