A Definiton of Mindfulness

A Definition of Mindfulness



Mindfulness is awareness without judgment of what is, via direct and immediate experience. When you are mindful, you are fully alive to each moment of life as it is, not as you wish it would be, and can respond to it skillfully. Mindfulness is taught as a skill in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and other mindfulness-based therapy approaches.

How often in life are we doing one thing while thinking of another, whether thinking ahead to the next thing we need to do or ruminating on a problem of the past. It is in doing this that people often run on “auto-pilot,” missing their life in the present moment. How often do we miss out on the opportunity for true intimacy with another in being self-conscious rather than being able to be truly present with the person and enjoy their company. The goal in teaching mindfulness skills is to help a person to become mindful rather than mindless; to help one to control’s one mind rather than let their mind control them.

In learning to become fully aware of one’s present experience with acceptance, one can best meet each moment of their life by doing just what is needed. Each moment of one’s life becomes an opportunity to practice mindfulness skills and life becomes one’s practice. There is freedom in being able to face the reality and sometimes pain encountered in our life. In being truly mindful, one is able to experience life as it is, as well as one’s own self and emotions, and other people as they are, in the here and now.

Jaci Pekarek