Are Mindfulness and Meditation the Same Thing?

 

You often hear or read of these terms being used interchangeably, but are they the same? What is the difference? 

 

 

Mindfulness is the ability to be present with feelings and experience the moment just as it is without analyzing or judging. It can be the first step in increasing self awareness and uncovering inner narratives and belief systems. On its own, it is not a spiritual or religious practice but it is practiced as part of religious or spiritual beliefs. Mindfulness is part of meditation but it can be done anywhere at anytime in response to a particular stimulus. 

 

Mindfulness (mind+full+ness) broken down is the condition of the mind being full of the present moment. Implementing mindfulness into your life can start as simply as quietly or out loud repeating to yourself what you are doing in that exact moment. For example, while making your coffee, you can repeat to yourself ” I am making my coffee, I am scooping these grounds into my coffee maker.” Another example is while driving. We so often zone out while driving ending up on autopilot. You can recenter your thoughts and focus by simply saying to yourself, ” I am driving on ….freeway/highway/street, I am driving my car to…..” Simply engaging your 5 senses can be a form of mindfulness as well. Stop and take note of the sights, noises, scents, textures, or tastes around you. 

 

You can’t meditate without being mindful but you can be mindful without meditating. 

 

 

Meditation is an actual practice and process of sitting or lying in a comfortable position while utilizing techniques such as mindfulness, mantras, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, and mindful breathing. You do not need to be spiritual or religious to practice it but it is part of religions throughout the world. It can be practiced by anyone at anytime. It allows separation from you and your thoughts, allowing you to see that you are not your thoughts and internal dialogue. The awareness of separation between you and your thoughts clears the mental chatter allowing you to connect that to that “inner voice”, “gut feeling”, or “higher self” which knows best for you and indirectly those around you. The act of meditating drops you into lower frequency brainwaves that foster creativity, learning, problem solving, and new  perspectives. 

 

 

Mindfulness and meditation work hand in hand but it is helpful to know they are not the same. You can be mindful at any moment of the day, even while sitting in a meeting full of co-workers, or waiting in line at the grocery store. Ultimately, they both lead to greater awareness of yourself and the present moment which leads to mental clarity and peace. 

 

 

Getting started with mindfulness and meditation can feel overwhelming and inaccessible. It can also feel like it is only meant to be done  by those wearing certain outfits sitting on a beach, mountain top, or in a yoga studio. 

 

I remember trying meditation off and on for years but it felt like I could never get it right. I could never seem to “visualize my thoughts on a cloud and watch them drift away.” This only led to frustration and feeling like my brain wasn’t meant to meditate. It wasn’t until I found teachers that taught me the concepts of meditation in an easy to understand manner, that it clicked for me and that meditation started changing my thoughts and behaviors. The amount of mental clarity and the ability to get out of analysis paralysis were life changing for me.

 

The truth is, real change from meditation, comes from a simple consistent practice done in your own space. It comes from you going inward and has nothing to do with where you are or what you are wearing. It is accessible to all and does not have to include visualizing your thoughts on a cloud. I still cringe when I hear that cue.  

 

As others  had to teach me to meditate in a way that resonated with me, I wish to pass this forward and teach others to meditate. My love for meditating led me to become a certified meditation teacher so I could share this tool with others. Click below to learn more about my “Mindset Reset Program” or click the button below to book a free 30 minute consult to learn more about the program and my offerings.