Mindfulness has been defined as “the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally (Kabat–Zinn 2014).
Mindfulness therapy is not concerned with relaxation, though that might be a side benefit from certain mindful practices. The focus is on increasing your awareness of the thoughts, feelings, and actions that hinder your progress. This process provides a realistic appraisal of where you are and what condition you are in mentally.
The more fully you are aware of your situation as it is here and now, the more effectively you can take action to change it. Becoming the observer of your internal experience allows you to notice your thoughts as passing mental events, not reality itself and you are more in touch with life through your body and senses rather than mostly through your unexamined and habitual thoughts.
