The term mindfulness is usually tied to meditation as in the mindfulness of Buddhism, and yet it can be tied to every activity that human beings engage in. Being mindful is to be in the moment, being fully aware of the goings-on without rendering judgment – simply acknowledging and releasing without emotional involvement. I believe that the same principles of mindfulness can be applied to communication – being aware and in the moment of the words being spoken.

How many of us use those “Ums and Ahs” – and other “filler” words such as “but” and “and” as a reflex of communication without actually thinking about it? How would mindful communication improve the eloquence of our speech? This week, I’m going to work on expressing myself with mindfulness, as opposed to reflex.