Mindfulness is just paying attention to this moment. There is no right or wrong way to do that. Just like eating, each person has their own way of eating and there is no right or wrong way to eat.
That said, most people would agree that no matter how you eat, certainly conditions need to be met for the action to be called “eating,” or for the action to serve its intended function, which in this case is getting food from outside the body into our stomach.
In mindfulness practice, certain conditions also need to be met so that what we are doing is serving the function of mindfulness. Those conditions are:
- Nonjudgement
- Awareness
- Present moment
The technique we practice, breath awareness, is a time-honored technique that embodies and balances all those conditions that help mindfulness deliver its intended function.
And of course, how we breathe, pay attention to the breath, notice our thoughts, let thoughts go, and return to the breath, are all unique to each one of us. So there is no right or wrong way to do any of those.
The important question is: Are we being aware of the present moment? If we are caught up in thoughts, are we aware of that? Are we willing to let go of the imaginary film, let of our judgment, and return to present moment? If so, we are practicing mindfulness correctly.
Mindfulness FAQ 