Quotes on Mindfulness [inspiring powerful quotes to change your life]

My promise to you is this, read all of these quotes. Take a moment to quietly comprehend what they are saing to you. Act on that knowledge and it will change your life for the better.

Mindfulness is a concept in which you consciously direct your entire thoughts on the actual moment you are in without any attachment to that moment. The purpose is to help you cope with the anxiety of life. You become totally aware of your present situation, both externally and internally. 

What is Mindfulness?

What comes to your mind when you hear the word mindfulness? Some would relate it to a sense of judgment, some would call it being aware and in control of your circumstances or the situations around you, perhaps some would call it a fashionable cliché. 

The best way is to think about mindfulness as an important concept in your life. The practice of mindfulness has many benefits you can implement supported by years of research.

So, what is mindfulness? Being mindful means different things to different people. Don’t confuse that with being in a state of mindfulness.

Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh creates an eloquent description of mindfulness…

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

If you’re already practicing mindfulness, or even if you’re new to it, some extra inspiration might come in handy. Below are some of the most inspirational quotes about mindfulness that will help boost your motivation. 

Each quote we will elaborate and explain in greater detail to provide a better understanding. Keep reading to learn how to stay in the present moment and explore your mind!

Buddha Quotes

“Our life is shaped by our mind, for we become what we think.” – Buddha

This is an incredibly famous quote by Buddha. It’s just a one-liner, however, it has a deep meaning to it. It places emphasis on the fact that we attract and become what we think about. 

That includes our emotions, feelings and most importantly, out thoughts. You need to remember that success and happiness are the products of thinking positively. 

On the other hand, negative thoughts will leave you with different emotions, actions, feelings and results. 

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” – Buddha

An incredibly famous and important quote from Buddha. Do you think if you have more money you will be able to find peace? 

Do you think if you are successful and if you achieve your dreams you will find peace? A lot of rich, famous, and successful people do not think the same. 

Peace actually comes from within, and not from any external circumstances. You can be content and peaceful with even little of what you have. 

Yes, after you achieve something, after you finish something, you will find peace. However, this will be only for a brief moment. Your mind is always on the run, it’s working 24/7. 

When your mind stops the restless thinking, when you’re not thinking about so many things, that’s when you can achieve happiness and peace. 

“Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.” – Buddha

This is a very inspiring quote by Buddha. We find a lot of people holding on to their pasts and constantly fighting sadness, grief, regret. 

All of these things just add on to destroying your mental peace. Buddha states this beautifully, it’s crucial to let go of your past in order to move forward and be aware of your present. 

Remember, you won’t be able to practice mindfulness if you are unable to shed your past over and over again. 

“Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.” – Buddha

This one is again a very motivating quote by Buddha. You need to remember that even if things don’t turn out to be as you expected, there’s always something that you will gain from that experience. There will be a lesson every time, no matter how bad it seems. Your only goal is to find it and learn from it. 

Thích Nhất Hạnh Quotes

“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh

Thích Nhất Hạnh is a great leader/teacher of mindfulness. You might have come across his videos and teachings on how to practice mindfulness. 

The quote is the perfect inspiration to focus on the present moment because that is the only moment you can control. 

Dwelling on the past will only attract negative thoughts and waste your time. An important practice in mindfulness is observing your thoughts, emotions and immersing yourself entirely into the experience.

Jack Kornfield Quotes 

“Much of spiritual life is self-acceptance, maybe all of it.” – Jack Kornfield

I wish I could be as confident as she is…
I wish I was an extrovert like her…
I wish I could talk to people as easily as he can…

How many times have you compared yourself to others? How many times have you desired to be like someone else, or wished you could experience the things that others are experiencing?

Quite a lot, right? This is called self-doubt. We often lack gratitude and self-acceptance and compare ourselves with others. Have you ever thought you are your own worst enemy?

Gratitude and self-acceptance are the closest of real peace anyone could experience. It will be extremely helpful in practicing mindfulness.   

Allan Lokos Quotes

“You cannot control the results, only your actions.” – Allan Lokos

It’s always a wise decision to focus on the things that you can control. Beautiful quote by Allan Lokos, a popular mindfulness author about focusing on your daily life. 

You need to disconnect yourself from the worries of the future. That’s something which is not in your hands. Think about your immediate goals and the little moments of your life instead of some distant future.

Let us put it this way, you cannot control if you’ll become a rich businessman in future. What you can do at the present moment is connect with like-minded people, help them and receive their help. 

Try to develop a sense of wonder for the true nature of what happiness is and what it is not.

Rasheed Ogunlaru Quotes

“How you look at it is pretty much how you’ll see it.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru

This quote is a much needed one. There’s a simple concept linked to it, you will attract what you think. If you are consumed by negative thoughts, that’s what you’ll attract. 

You’ll attract negativity. However, if you are always grateful for things, if you see things positively, you will be able to find peace and attract positivity towards yourself. 

It’s as simple as that. You just need to know how to control your thoughts. Meditation helps a lot with practicing this.

Dalai Lama Quotes 

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – Dalai Lama

You might be thinking how this is related to mindfulness. Let us elaborate. Mindfulness is being aware of your present, feelings, and environment. It is linked to personal wellbeing. 

Until now, we were just talking about our own self. A single person. What if you draw it further to your community? Kindness will include not just being aware of ourselves, but of others too.

Marcus Aurelius Quotes

“Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.” – Marcus Aurelius

An incredible quote by the famous leader Marcus Aurelius. This is an ideal example of living your life to the fullest and experiencing every single moment. 

This quote is also a reminder to us that each moment is here, but only once. It’s clear that we human beings have immense difficulty in living in the present moment. 

Why is that so? Some people drift away from the present by thinking about ‘what is next?’, while some people are still holding on to their past. Awareness is crucial. 

Allan Lokos Quotes

“One who is patient glows with an inner radiance.” – Allan Lokos

You might be thinking, how is being patient connected to mindfulness. The truth is that patience is power. It’s about allowing things to unfold at their own set timings, understanding that whatever has happened was for the best. 

If you learn to be patient, it will help you see the beauty in each moment. It will automatically lead to practicing mindfulness. 

Travis Eliot Quotes

“Mindfulness clears the windshield of the mind so that we can see things as they really are.” – Travis Eliot 

Another inspiring quote by Travis Eliot. Practicing mindfulness will help you regularly in rewiring your brain and focusing your attention in the present. 

Rather than stressing over the past or worrying over what’s going to happen in the future, it helps you recognize your thoughts to what they actually are. 

It will help you let go of negative thoughts and learning to accept yourself and your life as it is. Gratitude and self-acceptance play an important part in this.

Mother Teresa Quotes

“Be happy in the moment. That is enough.”- Mother Teresa

Important words my Mother Teresa. Life could change at a moment’s notice; we never know what’s going to happen next. 

Therefore, it is important to be happy and alive in the present moment. Happy people are more productive. 

If you practice gratitude and self-acceptance, you’ll most likely be able to let go of all the negative thoughts that create a hindrance in practicing mindfulness. 

Eckhart Tolle Quotes

“In today’s rush, we all think too much, seek too much, want too much and forget about the joy of just being.” – Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle is an author and a spiritual teacher. Nowadays, with the busy schedules and routines, everyone is running after something. We seek too much, and desire too much. 

We’re always comparing ourselves with other people. You need to learn to accept things as they are. Most importantly, you need to learn to accept yourself. Self-care and self-acceptance are two important things when you are practicing mindfulness. 

Therefore, it can be safely said that practicing mindfulness is very crucial for each human being. It not only helps you in being aware of your present, but it also improves your attention skills and memory. 

It will definitely help you in the long run. It may also reduce depression and anxiety. Hence, remember to be mindful. You can keep a diary, set a reminder, and try to practice mindfulness as much as you can.

Deepak Chopra Quotes

“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.” – Deepak Chopra

Deepak is renowned as being one of the mindfulness training leaders in the whole world. This is one of my favorite mindfulness quotes of all time. 

If you take each word to heart it really provides a full awareness that your happiness is a choice. That you have total control of how you view the world and thus your level of happiness.

“Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment.” – Deepak Chopra

How many times have you thought or said, “if only I had more time!”? I bet a lot! I do it too. Deepak teaches us that we all have plenty of time to do what we want if we stay aware of and live in the moment we are in. Think about what he is saying! It will become clear.

Pema Chödrön Quotes

“Meditation is a strange thing to do—sit there and do basically nothing. Yet somehow this simple act of stopping, is the best way to cultivate our good qualities.” – Pema Chödrön

Pema Chödrön, an American Buddhist teacher, is a leader in mindfulness meditation practice. She points out that the technique of conscious breathing, concentrating on that one thing while you meditate is a cornerstone of mindfulness practice. 

Tara Brach Quotes

“The ultimate purpose of inquiry is that it allows us to pause. In the space of a pause, truth can shine through.” – Tara Brach

Checking the capacity of your mind is a great mindfulness exercise to “inquire and pause” so your “truth” can shine through.

Tara Brach is another believer and great proponent of Buddhist mindful meditation. She believes the basic root of happiness lies in understanding the teachings of the “Masters” and incorporating love into your being. 

“I had found wisdom teachings and practices that train the heart and mind in unconditional and loving presence,” she explains. “I knew that this was a path of true freedom.”

Lao Tzu Quotes

“If you correct your mind the rest of your life will fall into place.” – Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu was a Chinese philosopher that lived well over 1000 years ago. He is credited with forming Taoism which is both a religion and a philosophy. Some say he never really existed but the name is just a generic term for ‘old man’ or ‘wise old man’. Whatever the case, Lao Tzu is full of wisdom.

My feeling is that the quote directs you to eliminate the negative self-talk that your mind can produce. I feel that your brain can often send you signals that are negative and thus influence your life in a negative way. Sounds silly right? But often true!

Some good mindfulness exercises are to try and block out the ‘noise’ that comes from your own mind when it is negative.

“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.” – Lao Tzu

Keeping your mind calm and removing negative thoughts is a powerful tool for your success and happiness in life.

Really put some effort into what thoughts you let enter your mind. Put up a wall that keeps the negative ones out. Don’t poison yourself with the wrong message.

“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” – Lao Tzu

You are clear about who you are, what you want, and the purpose of your life deep down inside.

Jon Kabat-Zinn Quotes

“Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

This is a profound quote by the famous leader and researcher Jon Kabat-Zinn. The bitter reality is that many of us spend a major share of our time worrying about the future or dwelling on our past. 

Whereas mindfulness is about being alive in the present moment, learning from your current experiences, and becoming aware of your thoughts and emotions. 

If you’re still holding on to your past, it’s time to let go!

“If we hope to go anywhere or develop ourselves in any way, we can only step from where we are standing. If we don’t really know where we are standing… We may only go in circles…” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Once again, Jon Kabat-Zinn, another teacher of mindful meditation speaks of knowing who you truly are as the key to developing a greater life.

Having the courage and wisdom to reach deep into your mind to see and know your strengths and weaknesses.

“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. This kind of attention nurtures greater awareness, clarity, and acceptance of the present-moment reality.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

The essence of purposely finding guidance in life from knowing who you are. Your life’s purpose and direction are a result of this clarity of self.

Sharon Salzberg Quotes

“Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon Salzberg

Quite an interesting quote. You just need to remember to be mindful right? Quite simple. But the truth is, it’s not really easy to remember how to be mindful most of the time. 

Let’s see what can be done to make mindfulness easier. You can set a notification, write it somewhere or wear a band. 

This will help you remember that you need to be mindful. You can also couple mindfulness with meditation. 

“Meditation is the ultimate mobile device; you can use it anywhere, anytime, unobtrusively.” – Sharon Salzberg

With many of these famous teachers, meditation is a key practice that you need to make a daily habit in order to find your true self.

This particular quote points out how meditation is that tool that is always with you and ready to help at any moment. It goes with you, wherever you are and is always at your service at any time you call for it.

“Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what’s happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what’s happening, stories that get in the way of direct experience. Often such stories treat a fleeting state of mind as if it were our entire and permanent self.” – Sharon Salzberg

This is a great reminder that your mind can sometimes work in ways against you. Just because the negative thoughts are coming from your own mind does not mean you should be listening to them!

Sometimes your mind is giving you erroneous information that should be disregarded.

Amit Ray Quotes

“Looking at beauty in the world, is the first step of purifying the mind.” – Amit Ray

Purifying your mind is basically a crucial step to free yourself from anything that contaminates and pollutes it. 

Beauty can be found everywhere and anywhere you look, you just need to notice it. Let’s take an example. Beauty can be found in little things such as holding the door for someone, smiling at someone, engaging with someone. 

If you’ve started to notice and engage in these little things, it’s the first step to purifying your mind and soul. 

“Life is a dance. Mindfulness is witnessing that dance.” – Amit Ray

Beautifully quotes by Amit Ray. This quote relates to being aware of your present situation. Being alive in the present. Throwing yourself into your experiences and not thinking about the past and the future.

Every experience is unique, and you should be in that moment by fully being engaged and open. Slow down when you’re experiencing a moment. Notice carefully. Your life is like a movie where you are the leading actor. Amit says a dance but you get the idea. 

Increasing your mindfulness on a daily basis allows you to watch yourself in that movie. To see yourself dancing and thus able to rewrite the script to produce the outcome you desire.

“Mind is a flexible mirror, adjust it, to see a better world.” – Amit Ray

Amit Ray is an Indian spiritual master. Known world-wide for his teaching on Yoga, peacefulness, and mediation this quote speaks to the heart of the matter in a very direct and succulent way. 

Who you are is who you make yourself be. Who you see in the mirror today does not have to always be. You can change that person and see a different person evolve.

Matthieu Ricard Quotes

“We try to fix the outside so much, but our control of the outer world is limited, temporary, and often, illusory.” – Matthieu Ricard

The world is full of circumstances and people that are not in your control. You can’t count on others for your happiness or success. It is all on you.

Realizing you are in total control of your destiny is the fundamental principle to a happy life.

“Meditation is not just blissing out under a mango tree. It completely changes your brain and therefore changes what you are.” – Matthieu Ricard

This statement is something to really keep in mind. Meditation is a key activity in mindfulness. It is not simply closing your eyes and doing conscious breathing.

Mark Williams Quotes

“Mindfulness cultivates our ability to do things knowing that we’re doing them.” – Mark Williams

Mark is a well respected professor and recognized expert on mindfulness. He defines mindfulness as being aware of your inside and outside world. 

More importantly he points out that “mindlessness” is opposite to mindfulness and can have a very negative impact on your life. Mindlessness is forgetting to do things, NOT being aware of yourself and your place in the world.

“When you start to feel a little sad, anxious, or irritable it’s not the mood that does the damage but how you react to it.” – Mark Williams

Everyone has emotions but it is how you handle those emotions that matter most. Don’t let the negative emotions impact your decision making. If you do, your situation could worsen. It is your actions that dictate what happens, not how you feel about things.

Stephen Vincent Benet Quotes

“You work hard, and you’ll rise. But, if you’ve got any foolish notions, just knock them on the head and forget them.” – Stephen Vincent Benet

A constant theme on advice from the majority of these mindfulness quotes is that what you actually ‘do’ is what matters. Not what you think and how you feel. 

Stephen Vincent Benet was an American poet and author. His words stress the importance of blocking out the negative voices in your head and instead focus on the work.

“Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the small uncaring ways”. – Stephen Vincent Benet

This is a famous quote that you even find on T-shirts and coffee mugs. What do you think it means. Living each moment of your life is the key aspect of happiness. But if you don’t realize that you just pass each moment in a daze and not experiencing it.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Quotes

“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

See inside of yourself to experience and know your purpose in life. If you realize your life has meaning it can change you for the better.

But to see that meaning, to know it, you have to be able to be in tune with your inner being.

Elisabeth studied near death situations in many people and even wrote a widely acclaimed book on the topic. Her book goes in depth about the five stages of grief. She coined the term, “Death is a graduation.”

“There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Here again, the teachings of the masters point out that we find peace in our lives from within ourselves. Nowhere else in the world must we travel to accomplish this except to journey to within our own mind. That can be done wherever you are at the moment.

Shunryu Suzuki Quotes

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities. In the expert’s mind there are few.” – Shunryu Suzuki

Become an expert on yourself. Know how to think. Know how to take action. Your life will become clear and the path to happiness and contentment obvious.

Shunryu Suzuki was a monk who wrote the best selling book “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind”.

“If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything, it is open to everything.” – Shunryu Suzuki 

Clear your mind of the meaningless chatter. If your mind has empty room, your possibilities are endless to fill it with good things.

James Baraz Quotes

“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” – James Baraz

Enjoy the moment you are in no matter what. Even in what seems like the bad times you can find moments of happiness or contentment if you look for them.

Realize that everything changes as time passes by. 

Carl Jung Quotes

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” – Carl Jung

Taking the time to peer inside your true self is the path to awakening a great life.

Henry Miller Quotes

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” – Henry Miller

The small things in life matter most. I think this quote is amazing as he points out that even a blade of grass, something you don’t even think about is magnificent. You can find the majesty of life everywhere if you take time to look.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes

“What is life but what a man is thinking of all day? This is his fate and his employer. Knowing is the measure of the man. By how much we know, so we are.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What you think is what you are. Knowing who you are is who you will be. Do you know who you are?

William Blake Quotes

“If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.” – William Blake

Clear your mind to find the truth. If you allow your brain to be filled with perceptions you won’t be able to see through the haze.

“To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.” – William Blake

The small things are where you find the truth of life.

Sylvia Boorstein Quotes

“Life is painful, suffering is optional.” – Sylvia Boorstein PhD

Perception is reality. What you think is how you feel. Control your thoughts and direct them to a positive outlook instead of the opposite. It can be done.

“Meditation changes the heart’s capacity to accept life as it is. It teaches the heart to be more accommodating, not by beating it into submission, but by making it clear that accommodation is a gratifying choice.” – Sylvia Boorstein PhD

Meditation changes you. It changes your outlook on life. It changes your life for the good. You just have to do it.

Sri Chinmoy Quotes

“I am very happy because I have conquered myself and not the world. I am very happy because I have loved the world and not myself.” – Sri Chinmoy

The world is not your concern. Love the world for what it is. You can’t change the world but you can change yourself.

“If we feel inwardly strong, we will have no need or desire to speak ill of others.” – Sri Chinmoy

Inner strength provides peace in life. It eliminates any notion or thought of even thinking negatively about others.

Danny Penman Quotes

“Once every hour today, tune into your breath for a few moments & pay attention to the little pleasures of daily life.” – Danny Penman

Sage advice from one of the leaders in mindful living and the orientation of calmness.

Mindfulness Books

There are literally thousands and thousands of books written on the benefits and techniques of mindfulness. How do you know the best ones to read? Probably impossible so I recommend starting with three of the classics. 

Moments of Mindfulness: Daily Inspiration – Thich Nhat Hanh

This book is a collection of inspirational quotes from Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh that can help you in a practical way.

He provides simple instructions on how to incorporate meditation into your daily routine in the quest to achieve a greater level of mindfulness.

This is much like a workbook and mini journal that you can make notes in to track your progress and journey.

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama with Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams

What better way to learn about mindfulness than from His Holiness, The Dalai Lama? Probably none! Add in the wisdom of Archbishop Tutu and you have a must read book about pure awareness.

They explore how to confront fear, illness, anxiety and even death in everyday life terms. Also, they define the joys of being.

Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Dr. Danny Penman

While Danny is a modern teacher he brings a simple ‘how to’ plan to reduce stress and deal with the crazy world we live in these days.

An easy to follow eight week plan of action will guide you by the hand into the world of mindfulness in your life. This is an action plan you should definitely invest in yourself with.

Utilize these books as a tool to help you develop and implement a daily plan to improve your level of mindfulness. I use portions of what I have learned from them in my life everyday.

If you feel overwhelmed by the whole idea then just focus on one book and a few simple lessons for now. Don’t try to do too much at once. 

Just a few minutes each day. For me it is pretty easy to accomplish if I set aside just five minutes in the morning and then five more just before I go to bed at night. Even if you only start with two minutes in the morning it can have a lasting positive impact. 

Try it and see! Everyone can set aside two minutes a day!

Mindfulness App

Yes, there are apps for mindfulness! Actually, most of them center around the core principle of obtaining greater mindfulness and that is meditation. These mindfulness apps all have free options, work on Apple and Android phones, and are loaded with meditation routines so give them a try and see what you think.

With everyone so tied to their phones these days it makes sense to me to give one of these app a go. 

Mindfulness Daily App

This mindfulness app is perfect for the beginner who needs a well planned out structure to get rolling on their quest for greater insight.

It helps you set up a daily routine as well as the ability to break in during the day at stressful times if needed. The creator states that their app is “Mindfulness designed around your unique daily life” implying the ability to customize it at a personal level.

Calm App

Calm claims they can help you improve your health and increase your happiness by using their app. In addition to reducing stress, coping with anxiety, and improving your self they also state using their app helps you sleep better.

The Calm app has won awards from Apple as best app of the year in 2018 and also from Google being chosen for the  “editor choice award”.

Insight Timer App

Insight Timer brings with it a global community of meditation believers. You can actually keep track of how many people around the world are also meditating when you are (if they are using the app).

The app also provides the ability to follow your favorite teachers and stay up to date with their latest content. That is a pretty good feature in my view and comes in handy as you don’t have to search around or subscribe to a bunch of different sources. All comes to you via the app.

You can also create a team (or circles as they call them) and meditate at the same time as your other fellow teammates. This is great for sharing and learning from others you feel a direct connection with.

Insight Timer has a huge library of free meditation guides from a large variety of teachers.

Conclusion

The practice of mindfulness can reduce the anxiety of life you may be encountering on a daily basis. While these quotes are not a magical solution they can very well give you guidance and reflection resulting in positive change in your life.

I have worked on my acceptance of the present experience my whole life. To me that simply means being at peace with the terms of life. Knowing the things that matter most to you is the key ingredient while realizing that you can’t change the world. Only yourself.

Like most people, I have a strong desire to avoid the suffering of pain. For me, limiting the emotional responses to everyday anxiety is keeping in tune with the essence of mindfulness in life.