Being “Mind Full” is feeling stuck with thoughts from the past and the present, which pollutes our minds and limits our capacity to be aware and live in the present. On the other hand, being “Mindful” means focusing on the present and being aware of what you are doing in the now. You can set an intention to focus on one aspect of the present moment, such as what you are doing right now. When your mind wanders into the past or future, mindfully shift back to your present focus. Here’s a fishing analogy to help understand what being mindful is about. Casting your hook and rod intentionally and with your entire attention is similar to the process of being in the present. If your hook and line get stuck on weeds or logs, this is like your mind getting stuck in the past or the future. In fishing, it isn’t a matter of if your hook and line get stuck, rather when. When you get stuck in this way, you unhook so that you can continue to cast your line. Getting hooked in thoughts of the past or the future is inevitable; the key is to unhook yourself when this happens so that you can continue casting your hook and live in the present. As you practice mindfulness, it will be possible to unhook a little quicker and continue to cast for longer periods of time. Just to clarify, it is natural for your mind to wander into the past or the future and the issue is when you feel stuck there. over time, you can mindfully reflect on thoughts with the ability to detach or unhook. For now though, we will start with noticing other aspects of the present.