🔼: [[Practices 🕯️]] # 🕯️ Mindfulness Conceptually, mindfulness is the opposite of being “absent minded.” It’s the awareness that arises from paying attention to our in-the-moment inner experience (thoughts, [[⭐️ Emotions]], and body sensations) and outer experience with [[☀️ Compassion]] and [[☀️ Equanimity]], from noticing our [[💡 Parts|Parts]] without [[💡 Blending|blending]] with them or acting from them. Some call this a state of “open monitoring.” Mindfulness is also noticing when we aren't being mindful, noticing when our attention drifts, when we're wrapped up in thought, or when we’re [[💡 Blending|blended]]. - [[🔑 Do the next right thing]] - Ichigo Ichie Mindfulness can be summarized in two questions: - "What (internally or externally) is happening right now?" - "Can I meet it with [[☀️ Compassion|☀️ kindness]]?" It can also be understood as a combination of: - [[💡 Focus & Concentration|Concentration]] - [[☀️ Clarity]] - [[☀️ Equanimity]] > [!info] The Benefits of Mindfulness > The more mindful we are of a [[💡 Stress|stressful]] experience, the less it bothers us. > [[🔑 The more mindful we are of a pleasant experience, the more fulfilling it is]] > > Mindfulness has been proven to… > - …reduce [[💡 Stress|stress]], [[💡 Chronic Pain]], [[💡 Depression|Depression]], and [[💡 Anxiety|Anxiety]] > - ...enhance our ability to cope with illness > - ...increase our sense of [[☀️ Calm]] > - ...[[💡 Brain#Improve Brain Health|improve brain health]] and cognitive function > - ...improve our [[💡 Focus & Concentration|Concentration]] > - ...increase our sense of well-being. > - Suffering = Pain / Mindfulness ![[🧘 Mindfulness Meditation]] ###### See Also - [[🧘 Effortless Mindfulness]] [^1]: