Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the cognitive skill,^[1][2][3] usually developed through exercises, of sustaining metacognitive awareness towards the contents of one's own mind and bodily sensations in the present moment.^{[4][5][a][6][7][8]} The term mindfulness derives from the Pali word sati, a significant element of Buddhist traditions,^[9][10] and the practice is based on ānāpānasati, Chan, and Tibetan meditation techniques.^[11][12][b]

Since the 1990s, secular mindfulness has gained popularity in the West.^[13] Individuals who have contributed to the popularity of secular mindfulness in the modern Western context include Jon Kabat-Zinn and Thích Nhất Hạnh.^[14][15]

Clinical psychology and psychiatry since the 1970s have developed a number of therapeutic applications based on mindfulness for helping people experiencing a variety of psychological conditions.^{[15] [c]} Clinical studies have documented both physical- and mental-health benefits of mindfulness in different patient categories as well as in healthy adults and children.^{[29][30][31][32] [d] [e]}

Critics have questioned both the commercialization and the over-marketing of mindfulness for health benefits—as well as emphasizing the need for more randomized controlled studies, for more methodological details in reported studies and for the use of larger sample sizes.^{[8][34][web 1]}

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