To be mindful is to pay attention to purpose. That is, paying attention to what is happening both around us and inside of us with consciousness and choice. So, mindfulness is an awareness process. We are not naturally mindful and therefore we have to train ourselves to develop this practice. And meditation is a powerful way to do this.
Mindfulness meditation is about bringing our attention to a point of focus in the present moment (either in our bodies or in the world around us). It is a noticing process, not a control process. So we are not trying to change our experiences, but instead just simply notice them with curiosity, neutrality and acceptance. Part of this process is noticing when we have become distracted away from our point of focus, which usually happens by thought (and often happens a lot!). So rather than trying to stop thought, mindfulness is about noticing thought when it appears, and then choosing to bring our attention back to our point of focus again. It’s the noticing and coming back which is building the attention muscle in our brain. So the more we do this, the more we are developing the skill of mindfulness at a neurological level, and therefore the more we be mindful throughout our day.
In this regard, mindfulness meditation is having impact at a physiological, neurological and psychological level and therefore it is not surprising that it’s a practice that has recently swept across the western world. Meditation can be practiced anywhere at any time, with eyes open or closed, sitting or standing and it can be practiced by anyone!
Dr Carrie Hayward is a clinical psychologist with over 12 years experience in private practice and community health settings. She currently heads up her own private practice, Hayward Psychology, in Melbourne. Her main practice in therapy in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is mindfulness based approach that helps people to live a rich and meaningful life. Carrie also directs a mindfulness studio, and co-founded the Mindful Walk, a community fundraising event that raises money for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Carrie is about to publish her first book, a psychology gift book, to be released in early 2020.
You can find our more on her website.
Disclaimer: This Content has been developed from our generous global community and is intended for informational purposes only. This Content is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon. Further, the personal views and experiences published are expressly those of the author, and do not represent the views or endorsement of SoulAdvisor through the act of publication on our site.
Books
Similar articles in Meditation & Mindfulness
The Power of the Pause: Healing Emotional Triggers With Awareness
When something small feels unexpectedly big, it is often the past speaking through the present. A mo [...]
5 Daily Energy‑Clearing Practices You Can Do at Home
Feeling drained, anxious, or out of alignment? Energy clearing, or cleansing, is the ancient practic [...]
Gazing Meditation
There are many different types of meditation, and no single technique is universally the best for ev [...]
Self-Care for Therapists: Prioritising Your Own Wellbeing to Better Serve Your Clients
As health and wellness practitioners, we know that self-care is imperative. We teach it and we he [...]
The Sacred Space Of Online Meditation
The meditation movement around the world is growing at an extraordinary pace. During the pandemic, m [...]
Getting Distracted? Try Some Mindfulness Meditation
Do you find yourself getting distracted while working, thinking you’ll quickly Google that thing on [...]
4 Ways Thinking Like A Monk Can Free Your Mind
How can you free yourself of anxiety, anger, and bitterness and all those negative emotions that cre [...]
The Key To A Successful Life? Start With Compassion
We’ve all been told it’s better to give than to receive. And if this taxing time during the pandemic [...]
Meditation On The Go
It’s hard. You want to meditate. But you can’t find the time. You crave rest. You wish you could jus [...]
Who Can Meditate?
I meet lots of people who say they love meditation and that it’s made a huge difference in their liv [...]
The Sacred Movement Of Stillness
The word movement is usually something we associate with physical activity or physically ‘doing’ som [...]
Similar articles in Mind
The Power of the Pause: Healing Emotional Triggers With Awareness
When something small feels unexpectedly big, it is often the past speaking through the present. A mo [...]
The Power of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is one of the most loving gifts you can give yourself. It’s not about letting someone “o [...]
You've Been Hypnotised Before - Now Use It to Create the Life You Want
If you’ve ever taken a wildly popular drink or followed a fashion trend, chances are you’ve been hyp [...]
Say Yes to Life!
The article inspires readers to embrace life with meaning, optimism, forgiveness, self-acceptance, a [...]
Reiki vs ThetaHealing®: Which Energy Therapy Is Right for You?
Curious about energy healing? Learn the key differences between Reiki and ThetaHealing® to find the [...]
5 Daily Energy‑Clearing Practices You Can Do at Home
Feeling drained, anxious, or out of alignment? Energy clearing, or cleansing, is the ancient practic [...]
Holistic Healing for Anxiety: Therapies, Tips & When to Seek a Practitioner
Holistic approaches offer natural, whole-person ways to manage stress and anxiety. In this article, [...]
Gazing Meditation
There are many different types of meditation, and no single technique is universally the best for ev [...]
5 Ways to Combat Monday Blues at Your Workplace
We've all been there, the familiar dread and the reluctance to start the week. However, with the rig [...]
Mind Health
Mind health is crucial for overall well-being, impacting emotional resilience, relationships, and pr [...]
Self-Care for Therapists: Prioritising Your Own Wellbeing to Better Serve Your Clients
As health and wellness practitioners, we know that self-care is imperative. We teach it and we he [...]
Finding Strength In True Relaxation
It's often not enough to say "just relax" when we are faced with full schedules, life's unexpected t [...]
The Secret Of Happiness Is Connection
With the uncertainty in the world at the moment, it is more important than ever that we connect with [...]
The Sacred Space Of Online Meditation
The meditation movement around the world is growing at an extraordinary pace. During the pandemic, m [...]
Coaching or counselling? Online or face to face?
We speak with a SoulAdvisor coach and a counsellor to help you decide. Are you at a crossroads in [...]
Getting Distracted? Try Some Mindfulness Meditation
Do you find yourself getting distracted while working, thinking you’ll quickly Google that thing on [...]
The Impact Of Menopause On The Mind
Menopause not only brings major changes to your body, it can impact your mental health. An artic [...]
Feeling Lonely This Holiday Period? You're Not Alone
We often think of Christmas and the holiday period as a time to catch up with friends and family aft [...]
3 Helpful Options For Mental Health Support During Pandemic
“No one understands me.” “I can’t talk to anyone about this - they'll judge me as weak, ungratefu [...]
4 Ways Thinking Like A Monk Can Free Your Mind
How can you free yourself of anxiety, anger, and bitterness and all those negative emotions that cre [...]
Managing Your Anxiety Naturally: 12 Expert Opinions - Part 2
On World Health Day, SoulAdvisor hosted its inaugural wellness forum on the topic of anxiety. Read o [...]
Managing Your Anxiety Naturally: 12 Expert Opinions - Part 1
On World Health Day, SoulAdvisor hosted its inaugural wellness forum on the topic of anxiety. Read o [...]
Seasonal Secrets – Making Autumn Your Friend, Not Your Fall
We’ve all felt the clutches of that post summer slump. The warm, dreamy holidays are over, we’re hea [...]
Simple Tips To Avoid Zoom Burnout
In 2020, millions of people across the globe made the abrupt shift to working from home. While remot [...]
How To Foster Resilience In The Burnout Epidemic
Feelings of exhaustion, disconnectedness and lack of motivation are a daily occurrence for many of u [...]
The Key To A Successful Life? Start With Compassion
We’ve all been told it’s better to give than to receive. And if this taxing time during the pandemic [...]
Energy Seeks Balance - How To Rebalance Your Energy
When the balance of yin and yang is disturbed, we experience an unease in our body and our mind - at [...]
Rediscovering Our Way To Wellness
For centuries, many scholars have argued that our habitual thoughts and beliefs influence our body’s [...]
Meditation On The Go
It’s hard. You want to meditate. But you can’t find the time. You crave rest. You wish you could jus [...]
Who Can Meditate?
I meet lots of people who say they love meditation and that it’s made a huge difference in their liv [...]
The 7 Energy Challenges To Well-Being
Our well being is priceless. All of us all want it and need it to enjoy every other aspect of our li [...]
The Sacred Movement Of Stillness
The word movement is usually something we associate with physical activity or physically ‘doing’ som [...]