What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is often confused with meditation as the two concepts overlap significantly. But, what is mindfulness? Meditation is the actual practise of medicating, while mindfulness can be practiced all the time in everyday life.
Jon Kabat-Zinn refers to mindfulness as "Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally".
Mindfulness is being aware of the moment that you’re in while you’re in that point in time. A good example is someone who is drawing a picture of the scene in front of them. They’re actively looking at and taking in the shapes, colours, light, textures of the scene.
It may take them awhile of looking at the scenery to see the shapes and for the colours to become clear enough to draw. This person is actively paying attention to the moment they’re in and looking at and appreciating that point in time and the place where they are. They’re aware of what they’re doing and acting intentionally – drawing on purpose. They’re in the moment.
The philosopher Immanuel Kant writes about the word ‘purposive’, rather than ‘purpose’. The idea is that ‘purposive’ is appreciating something in a way that is intentional but without having actual purpose. It is about appreciating something without a sense of that thing having to do something for us. Effectively, this means that things have a purpose without an actual purpose. The purpose of something can be simply being in the moment. A scene may not have a practical ‘purpose’ but it’s purpose is in us being there in that moment in that scene.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is about being there in that scene, that moment in time, without having to do anything or be anyone, or any other concepts. It’s just about being.
This is the basics of being mindful. Mindfulness can be extended into our actions, and interactions. Being with someone, talking to them and listening to what they say. Not thinking about work, or something else, but being in that conversation while it is happening.
This is an incredibly rewarding practise. It makes people feel GOOD. It will make your feel good.
Start practising mindfulness in steps. Look at the leaves in a tree while eating lunch. Listen to what someone is telling you and respond appropriately. Take a few little steps each day to be in that place in the moment.
