Mindfulness. By now you have heard that word quite a bit, but the definition seems to be quite elusive and possibly might be slightly different to many. We have scoured the web searching through various definitions to help give you a wider picture into the amazing world of Mindfulness.

Check out what these 8 different sources have to say about their meaning of mindfulness.

1. MINDFULNESS MEANING DEFINED BY OXFORD DICTIONARIES

Mindfulness: noun
A. The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
B. 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, used as a therapeutic technique.

2. MINDFULNESS AS DEFINED BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

The term “mindfulness” has been used to refer to a psychological state of awareness, the practices that promote this awareness, a mode of processing information and a character trait…we define mindfulness as a moment-to-moment awareness of one’s experience without judgment. In this sense, mindfulness is a state and not a trait. While it might be promoted by certain practices or activities, such as meditation, it is not equivalent to or synonymous with them.

Several disciplines and practices can cultivate mindfulness, such as yoga, tai chi and qigong, but most of the literature has focused on mindfulness that is developed through mindfulness meditation — those self-regulation practices that focus on training attention and awareness in order to bring mental processes under greater voluntary control and thereby foster general mental well-being and development and/or specific capacities such as calmness, clarity and concentration (Walsh & Shapiro, 2006). Researchers theorize that mindfulness meditation promotes metacognitive awareness, decreases rumination via disengagement from perseverative cognitive activities and enhances attentional capacities through gains in working memory. These cognitive gains, in turn, contribute to effective emotion-regulation strategies.

3. MINDFULNESS AS DEFINED BY THE GREATER GOOD SCIENCE CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there’s a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.

Though it has its roots in Buddhist meditation, a secular practice of mindfulness has entered the American mainstream in recent years, in part through the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn and his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, which he launched at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1979. Since that time, thousands of studies have documented the physical and mental health benefits of mindfulness in general and MBSR in particular, inspiring countless programs to adapt the MBSR model for schools, prisons, hospitals, veterans centers, and beyond.

4. MINDFULNESS AS DEFINED BY PSYCHOLOGYTODAY.COM

Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you’re mindful, you carefully observe your thoughts and feelings without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to your current experience, rather than dwelling on the past or anticipating the future.

5. MINDFULNESS AS DEFINED BY MINDFUL.ORG

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.

6. MINDFULNESS AS DEFINED BY WIKIPEDIA

Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment, which can be developed through the practice of meditation and other training. The term “mindfulness” is a translation of the Pali term sati, which is a significant element of Buddhist traditions. In Buddhist teachings, mindfulness is utilized to develop self-knowledge and wisdom that gradually lead to what is described as enlightenment or the complete freedom from suffering. The recent popularity of mindfulness in the West is generally considered to have been initiated by Jon Kabat-Zinn (#7 below).

Large population-based research studies have indicated that the practice of mindfulness is strongly correlated with greater well-being and perceived health. Studies have also shown that rumination and worry contribute to mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and that mindfulness-based interventions are effective in the reduction of both rumination and worry.

7. MINDFULNESS AS DEFINED BY JON KABAT-ZINN

“Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally,” says Kabat-Zinn. “It’s about knowing what is on your mind.”

In 1979, Jon founded the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he adapted the Buddhist teachings on mindfulness and created the Stress Reduction and Relaxation Program. He then renamed the structured eight-week course Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).

8. MINDFULNESS AS DEFINED BY THESAURUS.COM

Synonyms include: alertness, carefulness, caution, circumspection, concentration, concern, conscientiousness, consideration, diligence, direction, discrimination, effort, enthusiasm, exactness, exertion, fastidiousness, forethought, heed, heedfulness, interest, management, meticulousness, nicety, pains, particularity, precaution, prudence, regard, scrupulousness, solicitude, thought, trouble, vigilance, wariness, watchfulness, gingerliness

After reviewing through the different definitions above, it’s easy to see a pattern: mindfulness has to do with your paying attention in this very moment right now, as well as emphasizes the importance of being nonjudgmental of your thoughts. There are numerous benefits of practicing mindfulness as we will discuss in this week’s upcoming blog.

Do you have a mindfulness practice or are you just starting one out? Either way, we’d love to hear your thoughts below!