There are many practices and definitions of mindfulness. I will give you my perspective as a person with ADHD and a very busy mind.

Mindfulness is awareness of the activity of the mind. The goal of mindfulness is to create an enduring state of balance and peace which the Japanese call, ‘Anshin Ritsumi.’ Often, the practice of mindfulness allows for a greater understanding of the ways dualistic thinking creates suffering.

The practice of mindfulness is usually breath based which can be simple or complex, formal or informal, easy or difficult. Because of my ADHD, I find that ‘less is more,’ so I use rising/falling breath.

Successful practitioners find that is easier to make friends with the mind’s distractions rather than fighting against what is. It is this very simplicity that makes the practice of mindfulness seem like a struggle for beginners.