Mindfulness is directing attention to the present without judgment or preconception, not focusing on what has happened in the past, nor worrying about what will happen in the future, but feeling appreciation and gratitude for the present.

A central process of mindfulness is meditation, which originates from Buddhist tradition and ancient Chinese, Indian and Japanese cultures. In addition to meditation, much of the teachings of martial arts and yoga also utilize mindfulness principles. While meditation, martial arts and yoga have been practiced for thousands of years in many Asian countries, they have just gained in popularity in the 20th century in the U.S.