You might notice that the terms mindfulness and meditation seem to be used interchangeably. If you search online, you’ll find different definitions for each. Here’s our interpretation:
Mindfulness is awareness of what you are feeling, sensing or thinking, and accepting that that’s the way it is right now.
Meditation is a mental training technique. There are many kinds of meditation. Some are aimed at focusing attention, by concentrating on breath, sound, or repeated phrases, for example. Other meditations cultivate social skillfulness, such as kindness, gratitude or empathic listening. And yet others bring awareness to the body, with body scans, walking or yoga. Meditation can be practiced in solitude or with others. For some people, doing it with a group can provide additional support, validation and inspiration.
Increasingly, mindfulness and meditation are media buzzwords associated with wellness. But it’s not just a passing trend; the buzz is largely driven by a significant body of neuroscience research about our ability to change the way we think, feel and act. Meditation and other mindful practices are tools of change.
