Mindfulness has its origins in Buddhism, a belief system which goes back over 2,000 years.
The Buddha taught that all attachment causes suffering – we are bound to suffer disappointments if we try to hold onto people, places or things.
We try to accept our thoughts and emotions in a gentle way, moving from the past and the future and being in the NOW.
Meditation focuses inwardly on the body-mind connection. Mindfulness relates to our actions, thoughts, emotions and states of mind. We have to sit still to meditate, but we can become mindful in any daily activity.
Meditation takes time – but we can become mindful in an instant.
"Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to the present moment, using techniques like meditation, breathing and yoga"
Mindfulness is cultivating the quality of being awake, present and accepting of this moment’s experience – which has a transforming potential on how we are with stressful, difficult and challenging situations.
BANGOR UNIVERSITY (Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice)