Mindfulness, Thoughtfulness and Flow
Mindfulness is a state of mind in which one is focused on the present. There is no worry about the future or review of the past. One can be mindful while performing a relatively mundane task. Washing dishes, having a bath, brushing one's teeth. The key is neither being in a hurry nor being deliberately slow. Paying attention to what one is doing and not thinking about anything else. Experts in meditation have developed methods to get you into a state of mindfulness but most people can find the state of mind at least sometimes. Thoughtfulness is another state of mind, similar to, but not identical to mindfulness. It differs from mindfulness in not necessarily being associated with an action. For instance, one can be thoughtful while sitting in a comfortable chair as well as while driving a vehicle along a familiar route or walking along a familiar path. The thoughts, often abstract, are not associated with strong emotion. For instance, thinking about an article I'm planning to