Mindfulness is characterized by careful observation and acceptance of present thoughts and feelings, rather than judging thoughts and feelings, disputing past experiences, or anticipating the future. Quite simply, being mindful means being fully present. It sounds effortless, but in our busy, stressful daily lives, it can be very difficult to practice. When we have a lot on our plate, we tend to run on autopilot—never fully investing in the present because we are considering/