Mindfulness is the ability to watch your own mind without being carried away by it. "What's so great about that?" - you might ask. Well, kind of everything. In that most of our emotional / mental pain comes from over identification with negative thoughts and beliefs, Mindfulness offers a simple, direct solution to relieving us from significant, undue suffering.
So how does Mindfulness work? The most simple explanation of mindfulness might be to sit down, close your eyes, and take notice of your physical sensations: the weight of your body on a chair, the air in the room, the sounds, the sensations in your hands and feet (where many thousands of nerve endings gather), and especially your breathing. Once anchored in the physical awareness, move your attention to your mind and just begin noticing the thoughts and feelings. You might think to yourself, "My mind is very anxious", or ,"My mind is worried about money", or "My mind is angry at her." When you establish this kind of awareness through practice, it could be said you have anchored your awareness in the "witnessing self", where you are more identified with your consciousness as a compassionate observer and not overtaken by painful thoughts. Over time with "witnessing self" can become more and more of where you are oriented from as a person, even when walking down the street. The result is a more centered way of living, greater peace, and a greater ability to move forward past negative thoughts and fears.
Mindfulness has become a highly recognized tool for mental health in Western Psychology. The research is in. Lowering stress, having a more positive self-regard, and living a more contented life have all been documented as direct results of people practicing mindfulness.
The teachings of people like Eckart Tolle (The Power of Now), Michael A. Singer (The Untethered Soul), and the Dalai Lama (The Art of Happiness) are all teachings of Mindfulness.
Check out the video below for a fun take on Mindfulness:
