Mindfullness

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. It's often used as a therapeutic technique and is rooted in Buddhist meditation practices, though it has been popularized in the West in a secular context, especially in the realms of psychology and wellness.
Here are some key points about mindfulness:

1. Present Moment Awareness: Mindfulness involves directing one's attention to the present moment. Instead of ruminating on the past or worrying about the future, you observe the current moment with full attention.
   
2. Non-judgmental Observation: It emphasizes observing one's thoughts and feelings without judging them as good or bad. Instead of getting caught up in your thoughts, you simply notice them as they come and go.
   
3. Acceptance: Mindfulness encourages accepting things as they are, rather than how you wish them to be. This doesn't mean passive resignation but rather recognizing and accepting your current experience, whether it's a feeling, a thought, or a physical sensation.
   
4. Cultivating Awareness: Mindfulness practices can increase awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.
   
5. Mindfulness Meditation: One common way to cultivate mindfulness is through mindfulness meditation, where individuals sit quietly and focus on their breathing, thoughts, sensations, and feelings.
   
6. Benefits: Research has shown that mindfulness can reduce stress, improve attention, decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve emotional well-being, and enhance overall quality of life.
   
7. Applications: Beyond traditional meditation, mindfulness concepts have been incorporated into various therapies (like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), education, workplaces, and even in daily activities.
   
   Tools 
   
   Mindfulness Overview
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p33800Pu2P8
    
   9 Principles of mindfulness
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n7FOBFMvXg
    
   Community
   https://www.ummhealth.org/center-mindfulness
   
   
   

In essence, mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives, being aware of our present experience as it's happening, and not being overly reactive or overwhelmed by what's going on around us. It's a simple concept but can be challenging to achieve in our fast-paced world, which is why deliberate practices like meditation can be helpful in cultivating this state of mind.