Psychology Today, one of the largest online mental health and psychology publications, defines mindfulness as “a state of active, open attention to the present”. In a world full of distractions, mindfulness emphasizes slowness and attentiveness.
One of the first mentions of the concept was in ancient 500 BCE Buddhist tradition. It was known as “sati,” a word in Pali, the sacred language of Theravada Buddhism. Within Buddhism, sati was one of the seven factors of enlightenment. While Buddhism spread throughout Asia, so did mindfulness practices. Different branches of Buddhism emphasized different aspects of mindfulness. In the latter half of the 20th century, mindfulness gained traction in the West as academics and researchers began investigating its clinical effects in a secular manner, catalyzed by Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
Today, mindfulness has solidified its standing within Western society as an effective treatment and enhancer for mental health. It is most commonly touted for its ability to improve emotional regulation. By paying attention to one’s thoughts, one learns to be more emotionally aware, allowing them to act accordingly. Regularly facing difficult emotions directly leads to improved confidence and reduced avoidance. Emotional avoidance is a key factor in anxiety and depression, allowing cycles of repetitive thought patterns to fester. By being aware of those cycles, one can progressively reduce them. The emphasis on focusing one’s attention improves calmness, mental clarity and emotional balance.
Mindfulness is practiced by intentionally bringing attention to the present moment with openness and without judgment. One of the most common methods is mindful breathing, where you sit comfortably, focus on the natural rhythm of each inhale and exhale without letting your mind wander away. Mindfulness can also be woven into everyday activities-eating slowly, walking with awareness of each step, or pausing to check in with your thoughts and feelings.
The acceptance and interest of mindfulness in Western society have proven responsible for long-lasting improvements to mental health. Beginners often benefit from guided meditations, which provide step-by-step instructions, these are available through apps and videos or mindfulness classes led by a trained instructor. The most important part of learning mindfulness is consistency and practice regularly.
Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/mindfulness
Inside the Mind 