Mindfulness is not another fix-it strategy. It’s really more than you think.

Of course, it involves being in the present moment, but remember that being in the present moment is not enough. As a famous mindfulness teacher, Joseph Goldstein points out, “your dog is in the present moment.”

And it’s paying attention on purpose, but it’s also more than that. What’s the purpose? If your purpose is to get rid of the stress and cover it up as soon as possible, that’s not mindfulness.

Importantly, it’s bringing attention to the present moment intentionally but in a particularly way – seeing clearly the reality of the situation and not hiding from it or trying to escape it – especially when you get what you don’t want or don’t get what you want. Mindfulness helps us acknowledge that what’s happening in this present moment is part of the human experience, our real experience. Being mindful doesn’t mean you can’t make a bad situation better – But mindful awareness allows you to make wiser choices about how to respond instead of reacting on automatic pilot in ways that hurt ourselves and others. Through this practice, we can develop inner strength and balance.