Mindfulness and Meditation
What are they?
While mindfulness and meditation are closely related, but they are not the same thing.
Mindfulness is a state of awareness. It means paying attention to the present moment; your thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and surroundings, without judgment. You can practise mindfulness any time, such as while walking, eating, studying, or simply by noticing your breathing.
Meditation is a practice or technique. It involves setting aside time to train the mind, often by focusing on something specific like the breath, a word, or a sound. Meditation is one way to develop mindfulness.
How they work together
The goal of meditation is to be present and aware in the moment. Meditation while focusing on breathing and learning to recognise, acknowledge and then let go of those unwanted feelings or thoughts is the start. In doing so you learn to relax both body and mind, and releasing tension in the body and mind leads to a greater ability to manage potentially stressful situations without getting caught up in them. Meditation is a way to learn to practise mindfulness, and mindfulness becomes a skill you can use when needed. Together, they help build calmness, focus, and emotional wellbeing over time
Meditation trains the mind, and mindfulness helps you use that awareness in daily life—both support better mental wellbeing.
How can they help me?
People who dwell on their thoughts and feelings often get stuck - they ruminate and worry about them or try to block or deny them because strong feelings and unwanted thoughts can feel dangerous. All this leads to anxiety and depression. But thoughts and feelings are what you have, not who or what you are. The purpose behind these practices is to realise that you are not your thoughts or feelings, and therefore not get caught up in them, or let them dictate your behaviour.
Once this realisation has taken place and a mindful state can be recalled at will, your thoughts and feelings cease to have such an imperative quality about them. You can be aware of and observe them, and choose to engage with them or not; you can even, as you become more skilled at the practice, decide to have different, more helpful thoughts and feelings. Rather than being blown hither and thither by your uncontrolled thoughts or feelings, you are in control to choose where they take you.The goal is to be present and aware in the moment. Meditation while focusing on breathing and learning to recognise, acknowledge and then let go of those unwanted feelings or thoughts is the start.
Mindfulness and meditation need to be grounded in the 'real' world - the world of work, college or school, or home. When children play they are frequently totally absorbed in the activity to the exclusion of everything else, but this is a knack we seem to lose as we get older. To be totally present though, to give your full attention to something, makes the experience of whatever you are doing richer and fuller.
