By Aarna Mantha
in 
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment” ~Buddha
Mindfulness can be defined as one’s ability to be fully present mentally. It is the capability of being aware of where we are and what we are doing without being overwhelmed by the things happening around us. It helps us stay active and prevents our minds from drifting into dreamland. Mindfulness is a skill every one of us possesses; we just have to harness it in order to utilize it fully.
Mindfulness has been a significant element of Hindu and Buddhist traditions which encapsulates Zen and Tibetan meditation techniques. Mindfulness grounds us to our present time. We often find ourselves overwhelmed by future possibilities or haunted by our past memories. This arises feelings of fear, doubt, regret, and anger within us about the past and future, both of which cannot be changed nor predicted. This is where mindfulness steps in, it helps us keep our energy, focus on today and help us center our attention on steps that will help us progress. Mindfulness has many psychological benefits as its practice has been employed in the psychiatric field to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety and is also used in the treatment of drug addiction.
Taking short pauses in everyday life to take a breather, being active by moving or walking, and meditating, during yoga and sports are simple yet effective techniques to cultivate mindfulness. This leads to a reduction of stress, and performance enhancement, and boosts our perception of our minds as well as to others’ well-being. It is important to remember that mindfulness doesn’t require us to change and that it is a way of living that can be achieved by anyone.