Mindfulness and Meditation Explained

            In recent years, mindfulness and meditation have skyrocketed in popularity in the U.S. and all around the world, becoming a worldwide health trend. However, much confusion has continued to surround the concepts of mindfulness and meditation, many even using the terms interchangeably. What do these words really mean? What are the differences between them?

            Mindfulness describes a specific way of living: it is being aware, engaging with and paying attention to the present moment nonjudgmentally. As Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, characterized it, “Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.”

            Mindfulness can be interpreted as a result of meditation. Meditation is one of the many routes to mindful living. There are many different types of meditation. Complicating matters further for many, there is a form of meditation called mindfulness meditation – where one uses the technique of mindfulness in meditation.

            While mindfulness can be practiced at anytime and anywhere, meditation is practiced for a specific amount of time, at a specific place, and usually in a seated pose; mindfulness is a quality, while meditation is an activity.

            Ultimately, mindfulness and meditation are at their core intertwined. Despite the difference between them, they cannot stand alone, completely separated from the other. Mindfulness enriches meditation, and meditation expands mindfulness.

            Though rooted deeply in Eastern religions, particularly in Buddhism and Hinduism, mindfulness and meditation have evolved into something greater than just religious practices today. With many research studies showing their benefits on the mental and holistic wellbeing, mindfulness and meditation have been integrated into therapy, psychological care, clinical practice, and more.