I am often asked to explain mindfulness. There are plenty of workable definitions out there, mostly revolving around being present in the here and now, being aware of what you are thinking, feeling, doing as you are thinking, feeling or doing. 

 

All these definitions are great but I tend to go one step further in how I view and explain mindfulness. It’s not just what you do, but how you do something. And that how is intentionality. 

 

Mindfulness is the precursor to intentionality - that state where you consciously choose to feel, think or behave in a certain manner. 

 

You might ask how you can choose to feel something. But you can. Happiness for instance is a choice. How your frame neural inputs will determine how you feel about the event that generated them. If an event in your life is potentially stressful or overwhelming, or frightening - it is only those things because you choose to frame the event in that way. The same event can also be felt as an opportunity, exciting and reaffirming. But you can’t do it without being mindful or having the intent.

 

To me, intentionality is where the rubber of mindfulness hits the road. It’s what makes mindfulness a practical tool rather than a conceptual idea or the passing fancy of yet another self-help trend.

 

It is a powerful force that propels you to be yourself, stretch yourself, and question the world around you, and most importantly, to act in accordance with your identity and who you truly are. 

 

Mindfulness changes everything.