Mindfulness is the nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment.
Notice there are three components to the definition of mindfulness above:
- Present
- Awareness
- Nonjudgmental.
It is being aware of the what is happening in the present moment, without judgment. It is a skill that can be developed and strengthened with practice and training.
Our minds are usually caught up in the future (worrying, planning) or the past (memories, rehashing events), never really actually being here in this moment. Sometimes we are thinking about what is happening in this moment, but even then we are evaluating and analyzing what is happening, and not actually truly being present.
Mindfulness meditation is a formal practice to train the mind to return to the present moment by letting go of thoughts. Anyone can do this practice. With consistent training, we can all practice mindfulness and live more mindfully.
Mindfulness FAQ 