Mindfulness is a mental training technique that teaches us to be aware of our thoughts, feelings, moods and body sensations as they are in the present moment.  This helps us to see things as they really are, and not as we would like them to be. 

When we pay attention to how we are thinking and feeling in the moment, we become better at noticing the build-up of stress, as well as recognising unpleasant emotions and thoughts.  With this awareness we can learn to deal with them more effectively, instead of reacting in negative ways.  

Mindfulness practices include focusing on the breath, body, movement, and the development of a more mindful attention and awareness to everyday activities.  All these techniques can help us to become more aware of the patterns of feelings and thinking that cause unhappiness.

Many of us move through our daily lives on automatic pilot, not really noticing the world that is turning around us, and rarely listening to what is happening in our hearts, minds and bodies.  Although being on autopilot can sometimes be necessary and positive, enabling us to achieve different tasks in our busy lives, it can also stop us from noticing when we might need to do things differently.

Much research has been done on mindfulness over the past 10 years. This has shown that mindfulness can help us to:

• Recognise, slow down or stop automatic and habitual reactions.
• Respond more effectively to complex or difficult situations.
• See situations more clearly
• Become more creative
• Achieve balance and resilience at work and at home
• Lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain and help sleep
• Improve working memory and ability to sustain attention
• Improve communication and relationships

 Mindfulness is also a journey.  A journey of self-discovery and acceptance, helping us to become aware of the harmful and negative judgments that we make about ourselves and others.