Charlie Laurel, LCMHC

“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non judgmentally.” 

-Jon Kabat Zinn-

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My recommendation: Practice mindfulness daily, for a few minutes, when it is easy. A few minutes a day beats an occasional long meditation.

 

Sometimes relaxation happens, sometimes not. I don't teach mindfulness as a relaxation technique, mostly because trying to relax adds unnecessary effort! You can expect that, over time, you'll experience more settled states of mind, but that is not the goal. The goal of mindfulness, in ACT, is greater freedom--freedom to choose where to direct your attention and activity in the interest of living a more meaningful, values-oriented life.