Mindfulness meditation is a practice that trains our minds. Research on neuroplasticity (how the brain can change) shows that mindfulness meditation literally rewires our brains.
Mindfulness meditation allows us to tap into a mind that is clear, open, compassionate, and flexible. Studies have shown that mindfulness meditation is associated with positive affect/experiences such as gratitude, compassion, peace, generosity, contentment, and joy.
This works by training our mind to come back to the present, over and over again. Why do we care about the present? Because this present moment simply is. Future, past, stress, anxiety, worrying, resentment, anger, frustration are all not in the present. When we can learn to return to and stay in the here and now, we are a little bit more free, and have more access to the wisdom and flexibility that we innately possess.
References:
Hanson, Rick. 2021. The Science of Meditation. https://www.rickhanson.net/the-science-of-meditation. Accessed March 2021.
Tang, YY., Hölzel, B. & Posner, M. The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nat Rev Neurosci 16, 213–225 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3916
Mindfulness FAQ 