What Is Mindfulness?

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Key Points

  1. Mindfulness involves intentional focus on the present moment, accepting it without judgment and practicing it with compassion.
  2. For clinicians applying mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, personal mindfulness practice is essential for effective teaching and embodiment.
  3. Viktor Frankl’s quote encapsulates the role of mindfulness as the awareness between stimulus and response, granting individuals the power of choice and fostering growth and freedom.
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Mindfulness refers to intentionally focusing one's attention on the present moment, observing things as they are, without rendering judgment. It is not about achieving a state of relaxation or bliss, nor is it about avoiding reality. Rather, it encompasses acknowledging and embracing every aspect of the present—whether pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant—without overlaying narratives or judgments.

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