This week we wrap up our exploration of mindfulness and look at how we can take it from the cushion into regular daily life.

Staying with Jon Kabat-Zinn’s definition of mindfulness as being "awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally” we see nothing is excluded from mindful awareness. So, we just have to turn everyday activities and experiences into moments of mindfulness.

We can notice we’re caught up in things and remember to come back to ourselves – take a breath, take a moment, find that space where we can see more fully and clearly and see where we have options and choice.
We can notice our body is sharing important feedback and turn our full attention there.
We can notice emotions arising and see if they’re a response to direct experience or a reaction to a story or judgments we’ve created around the experience.
We can notice our mind has wandered or we’ve become lost in thought and remember that we don’t have to get mired in the content of thoughts if they take us away from direct experience in this moment.
And we can notice how our general state of mind is influencing everything with which we interact and find skillful ways to open to a broader, more inclusive viewpoint.

Mindfulness is an important strategy that helps create the environment we need to be kinder, more compassionate and generous with ourselves and others.