Over the years, I have written many articles and posts on understanding mindfulness and mindfulness meditation. Through comments, questions and my own experience, I’ve come to realize that the biggest misunderstanding seems to be one regarding the difference between mindfulness itself and mindfulness meditation. The wandering mind is often confusing to folks as many think that if the mind wanders, this is a sort of \u201cfailure\u201d. \u00a0The most important thing to realize, next to it being normal, is that each time the mind wanders, it is an opportunity to \u201cbegin again\u201d or to escort awareness back to the present moment\u2026as many times as it takes. This action is the heart of mindfulness: cultivating awareness \u2013 being mindful of distraction and returning focus back to this<\/i> moment, this<\/i> breath.<\/p>\n
Mindfulness Meditation is the practice of cultivating awareness. It is the choice to take a few minutes to a longer period of time in silence, observing the mind along with sensations and emotions. In meditation we notice what is present, without changing anything. It could be said that mindfulness meditation is \u201cbeing\u201d rather than \u201cdoing\u201d.<\/p>\n