Why be Mindful

As we move through life, we can either tune into our selves—what we are feeling, sensing and doing— or we can tune out. When exercising, for example, we can either drift away from our bodies by reviewing what just happened at work or daydreaming about the meal to come. Or, we can stay grounded in our present-centered, body-based experience. The more actively we engage with ongoing perceptions, feelings, and sensations, the more grounded we feel and the more pleasure and presence we can cultivate in life.

Broadly speaking, mindfulness involves tuning into present-centered awareness. Mindfulness is not an activity per se, but instead is a way of living. Just as there are many ways to tune into current experience, there are also multiple understandings of the very concept of mindfulness.

During a given moment, how to tune in mindfully depends upon:
• Who we are
• Where we are
• What activity we engage in
• What intentions we set for ourselves

Different places, situations, activities and intentions not only engage different qualities of attention, but also different parts of the brain and different aspects of our brain/mind/body unity.