WHAT IS MINDFULNESS

Have you ever stopped to think of what a thought actually is? We are actually, more often than not, even aware of our thoughts, and because of this they can dominate our lives. They tell us what to do and what not to do much more than any of us realizes or wants them to. Mindfulness can break the domination that our thoughts have on us. When we are mindful we have a choice on whether or not to act on a thought or not. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a leader in mindfulness meditation says that mindfulness is “Paying attention, in a particular way: On purpose, in the present moment, and non judgmentally.”

Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there’s a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. I know that this can be tough, but just stop and think for a second what this could do for you, to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgement. I believe that this is when you develop wisdom. When you can see both sides of the coin. It's so easy to get caught up in whatever your story may be (or your child's story...) and not be able to see the forest for the trees, when you are caught up in your thoughts, they become like little dictators in your life, telling you what to do and what not to do. But what if you could let go of the story and just see the facts, without judgement? When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.