Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose - in the present moment - non-judgementally to things as they are. Jon Kabat-Zinn. Research has shown that if we are carrying out a task but thinking of something else, even if it is something fabulous like a holiday in Hawaii, we will be less happy than if we focused totally on the task at hand. So, whatever we’re doing, we need to give our full attention to it. If we are not careful, it would be easy to wish our lives away.

Many people spend their whole week wishing it was the weekend and living for those two days each week; others might be counting down the days to their summer holiday. When we do this, we can fail to enjoy all the wonderful little moments that happen every day. It’s all about focusing on the journey rather than the destination. As a therapist, I know that living in the past or the future can really take its toll on our mental health. At the extremes, living in the past can lead to depression, while living in the future can lead to anxiety.

Looking back can cause problems in two ways. Firstly, we might believe that the present doesn’t measure up, so we compare things unfavourably to how they used to be. We ruminate over past relationships or jobs and feel dissatisfied with where we currently are in life. Secondly, we might beat ourselves up about things we did or didn’t do; always asking what if? Alternatively, spending our time in the future can lead to worry and stress. We can begin overthinking and evencatastrophising what might happen in a particular situation. Our mind is a powerful tool and can make all these scenarios appear real.

To feel a sense of peace, we must find a way to shift our attention to the present moment as much as we can. The resources in this section will help you to understand and practice mindfulness more often, and this will lead to you feeling happier and more fulfilled.