🔼: [[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]]
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