The practice of mindfulness is everywhere. What is mindfulness? Can it really improve your mental state? What does the research have to say about it?

Business leaders, professional athletes, mental health professionals, and, of course, your neighbor down the street are all discussing how being mindful can improve our mental state and general well-being. Mindfulness is used as an approach for treating pain, depression, anxiety, OCD, addiction, chronic diseases, and HIV treatment side effects, as well as an aid in weight loss and in being more productive. So what is mindfulness? And what does the research have to say about its ability to better our lives? Read on for a brief look at the evidence-backed benefits of participating in a mindfulness program? By Sabrina Stierwalt, PhD.