What is Mindfulness?

Being mindful is a broad term of the state of being present and accepting everything as it is, without judgement or changing it. Therefore, mindfulness is a way of living life being aware of things as they are – our bodies, our minds and the environment around us.

There are 7 pillars of mindfulness:

1. Non-judging - simply noticing things as they are
2. Being patient with yourself
3. A beginner’s mind - approaching everything as if for the first time, open to possibility
4. Developing a trust with yourself
5. Non-Striving - not trying to change anything
6. Acceptance of things as they are
7. Letting go of any attachments to thoughts or emotions

There are many different ways you can incorporate mindfulness into your daily life - you can explore these further here.

These two terms are thrown around a lot and sometimes seem to be used interchangeably, so are they the same thing?

Mindfulness as a term and a technique in its own right became popularised in the 1970s by Jon Kabat-Zinn in Massachusetts, USA, who went on to found the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and developed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR) which has been widely used as part of treatment plans for a variety of conditions, from chronic pain to depression. Kabat-Zinn studied under Buddhist teachers to take aspects of mindfulness from more ancient schools of meditation to create the MBSR and allow these Eastern concepts to be more accessible to Western societies.

Meditation itself is a far broader term which encompasses many different techniques developed throughout history by many different cultures.

Mindfulness vs Meditation - what's the difference?

Med•i•tate ~

1. think deeply about (something)

2. focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation

Oxford English Dictionary

/ˈmɛdɪteɪt/

What is meditation?

The above definitions show what the word 'meditate' literally means, and is a good starting point.

Meditation as we mean it here at Mindfully Hannah, refers to a personal practice which aims to bring a greater sense of awareness to yourself, your thoughts and your surroundings, to see things as they are, without judgement, and allow you to cultivate resilience against the stress of the modern world.

There are many types and techniques of meditation which allow us to do this, mindfulness being one of them, and you can find out more about them here.

Meditation also has a rich and varied history spanning thousands of years, and is found in many cultures of the world in some form or another. Find out more about the history and development of meditation here.

Why should I meditate?

There are a huge range of physical, psychological and spiritual benefits of having a regular meditation practice

Physical Benefits

Meditation induces the Relaxation Response in the body, which causes heart rate and blood pressure to lower and bring a feeling of calm
Many see improved sleep and reduction in fatigue
Reduction in muscle tension
Reduced perception of pain, especially in those suffering with chronic pain conditions
Meditation can boost the immune system, helping to reduce inflammation around the body

Psychological Benefits

Meditation can lower feelings of worry, reduce overthinking and rumination
Improved mood and reduction in depression
Greater understanding of how your thoughts and feelings affect your behaviour
Better management of emotions
Increased ability to concentrate and improved productivity and creativity
Deepening of relationships with others and strengthened communication skills

Spiritual Benefits

Meditation can help people find a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives
Many report feeling more connected with themselves, their loved ones and the wider world
Increased sense of connection with the universe, of being part of something bigger
If you are a member of a particular religion, many report a deepening of their personal religious practice

There is an increasing body of scientific evidence to back up anecdotal benefits of meditation, with more and more research being conducted in this area. You can see some of the research studies here.