Mindfulness has become a popular catch-phrase lately, attached to everything from eating to breathing to working out at the gym. It's easy to be confused about what mindfulness really means, but at its core the practice of mindfulness is beautifully simple.
Mindfulness, or being mindful, comes from the Buddhist meditative principle of non-judging, present-moment awareness. It's about just being -- without judgment, without distraction -- for a moment, a breath, an hour, in a world that all too often feels all about doing, judging, and distracting.
When we make the purposeful choice to be aware in the present moment without judgement or distraction we give ourselves the gifts of reconnection (to self and the natural world) and restoration. We give our bodies a chance to become calm and regulated, and our minds and hearts a chance to settle into stillness and peace.
Mindfulness can have many therapeutic benefits, including helping to resolve anxiety, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal conflict, and trauma symptoms. We can bring mindfulness into therapy by practicing grounding exercises, taking moments of silence and reflection within sessions, and making room for moments of stillness and quiet awareness in your daily life.