Mindfulness is an increasingly popular practice yet remains misunderstood by many. Simply speaking, mindfulness allows you to live in the present moment, to be aware of what is going on around, and within you. A typical mindfulness practice consists of focusing your full attention on your breath. How many times a day do we breathe, and how mamy of those breaths are we fully aware of? By foicusing on the breath, we are practicing being aware, or being mindful.
Mindfulness also helps us be aware of our thoughts, and encourages us to notice the thoughts are just that. Thoughts. By noticing this, we can break out of ruminating thought cycles, pay attention to and enjoy what is around us rather than getting lost in thoughts about the past or the future.
Mindfulness is used alot in both ACT and CFT, and is also a useful practice in it own right. It can be done formally, what might appear to be meditation, and informally, e.g. whilst walking, eating or brushing your teeth.