Mindfulness is a form of meditative inquiry designed to access what is true in the moment. It is being aware and present in the moment without judgment. It is learning to be with ‘what is’ right in front of you. Mindfulness is about slowing down and cultivating the skill of simply noticing. While this may sound easy, our minds seem destined to attach to the past and the future quite easily, which takes us away from the present moment. While mindfulness practice is a form of attention training, it is not a technique. It is a way of being in life.

There are may ways to practice mindfulness, from paying attention to the breath, to sound, to touch, with walking, or even in creating in the arts. Mindfulness, practiced regularly, clears away mental clutter by helping us to acknowledge our thoughts objectively, and coming back to the breath. We learn to notice that what is in our awareness is always changing. This creates a mental-emotional muscle that carries into everyday life, helping us refrain from reacting too quickly to events and triggers by reducing our attachment to emotions, feelings, and thoughts. We become more thoughtful and response-oriented. Space is created to cultivate compassion, connection and collaboration. In a nutshell, mindfulness can help to create a more present orientation to the world by helping us integrate our bodies, minds, and hearts.