Stress, Mindfulness, Meditation and Resilience

Mindfulness and Compassion

Mindfulness involves maintaining a continuous awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and overall state through a gentle, nurturing lens. It includes acceptance, meaning we observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment, acknowledging them without deeming them right or wrong. This practice keeps our focus on the present moment, preventing us from dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Compassion means "to suffer together," and it emerges when we perceive another's suffering and feel motivated to alleviate it. While related to sympathy and empathy, compassion involves a desire to help. Empathy allows us to understand others' feelings, but compassion drives us to act on that understanding to help those in need.