Mindfulness is a state that can be brought on through practice. It’s not static, nor are you ‘born mindful’. It involves awareness, and impartiality about what you gain from this awareness. In an age of social media, where opinions, likes, and commentary are more than forthcoming, it’s easy to see how non-judgmental reflection can be a welcome change.
“The awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally”
(Kabat-Zinn, in Purser, 2015).
As well as awareness, Kabat-Zinn tells us to focus conscious attention on the ‘right here, right now’. It’s a concept that most who practice meditation will already be familiar with, and it’s why the two often go hand in hand.