Mindfulness

Mindfulness, according to Jon Kabat-Zinn, is “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” This awareness can bring significant insight into your thoughts, feelings, and sensations and how they are impacting your well-being. When we experience aversive stimuli, the tendency is usually to avoid. When we experience pleasurable stimuli, the tendency is to crave and attach ourselves to them. And it is this cycle of avoidance and craving that can so often lead to disruptions in our psychological well being. Mindfulness is often the key to breaking this cycle and learning to tolerate these experiences without reacting to them.