The Difference Between Meditation And Mindfulness

Hello and welcome to this video on the difference between mindfulness and meditation.

I'm Melanie.

If you are new to mindfulness or meditation,

You may have wondered,

Are they the same?

The short answer is they are connected.

But they're not exactly the same.

And there's many different views on how to break down the difference between the two.

For me,

Meditation is usually a formal practice.

You might set an intentional time to meditate,

Create a space in your home specifically for your meditation with pillows,

Candles,

Or essential oils.

Meditation is more of a formal practice.

And that might mean sitting quietly for a few minutes,

Listening to a guided practice,

Focusing on the breath,

Noticing sounds,

Or doing a formal body scan.

Meditation is something that you set aside time to do.

Mindfulness is the awareness that you are practicing.

Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment with curiosity,

Kindness,

And compassion.

So meditation is one way to practice mindfulness.

But mindfulness can also happen in everyday life.

You can practice mindfulness while drinking your coffee.

Walking down the hallway.

Listening to someone speak.

Washing dishes,

Taking one breath before answering a message,

Or noticing your shoulders are tense before walking into a room.

That's why I often say life is the curriculum for mindfulness.

Because the practice is not separate from your everyday life.

Your everyday life is where the practice is happening.

That's why I love teaching mindfulness in practical ways.

Because you don't need.

To always have a silent room,

A perfect schedule,

Or a completely calm mind to begin.

So if meditation feels intimidating,

Start with mindfulness.

Start with one breath.

One sip.

One step.

One moment of noticing.

Meditation is a practice you may choose to do.

Mindfulness is a way of paying attention that you can bring into your life.

And the more accessible it feels.

The more likely you are to practice it.

Thank you for watching this video and I hope it helped to give you maybe a different perspective or a clearer perspective on the difference between mindfulness and meditation.