Mindfulness is one of many forms of meditation. It can deliver stress relief, like most meditation practices. However, its goal is not to relieve stress or reach a higher level of spirituality, which is the point of some meditation techniques.
Comparing mindfulness to meditation is like comparing an orange to another fruit. Oranges are a type of fruit, but all fruits are not oranges.
Meditation should be considered as a single word that covers a vast field of practice. The word generally refers to a mental process that is used to train the mind. Different techniques are used to enhance or strengthen certain mental qualities. Meditation can help you focus better. If you have an issue with concentrating on keeping your mind on a single train of thought or subject, meditating can help.
Some people meditate simply for the amazing stress-relieving properties that it delivers. This isn’t so much a guaranteed benefit of mindfulness.
Mindfulness Simply Means Being Aware
A mindfulness practice has you opening your eyes to your world. A lot of meditation is done with your eyes closed. You look inward. You shut out the busy, crazy, hectic world that is often your reality. You clear your thoughts and focus on some results you’re trying to create.
When you practice mindfulness, you’re basically paying attention. The idea is to recognize your world and yourself with purpose. You only have to exist in the present moment while acting as an observer. You don’t judge yourself, your surroundings, or anything you encounter with your five senses. You recognize what is happening.
It’s a way of relating to whatever is occurring in your current reality.
When you think about it, your “right now” moment is all that you will ever experience in your life. Certainly, you have a past, and hopefully, you have a very long and happy future. But our perception of our lives as humans only exists in the millisecond that is now.
Mindfulness makes you more aware of your current “now” moment in time. Both mindfulness and other forms of meditation can deliver stress relief and a slew of important health benefits. They are simultaneously similar and different. One is not better or worse than the other. Practice the form of meditation that makes the most sense for you and takes you to the reality you’re trying to create.
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