15 Perfect Mindfulness Quotes

In today’s demanding world, many people are turning toward mindfulness. Mindfulness is simply the act of being more aware of, connected to, and engaged with the people, places, and things around us—including ourselves—in the present moment. The benefits of being mindful are endless—it can help us be kinder and more patient, more creative, and more self-aware. For some, mindfulness takes its form in meditation, art, or other activities, but it can also be as straightforward as reading and considering mindfulness quotes.

If you’ve ever searched mindfulness quotes, Buddha likely tops the list, but quotes on mindfulness can come from many different sources. In addition to philosophers and thought leaders, quotes about mindfulness can be found from leaders in athletics, education, and even business. 

If you’re interested in mindfulness or want to start a daily mindfulness quotes practice, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 15 of our favorite mindfulness quotes to get you started.

1. "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." —Buddha

2. “Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.” —Thich Nhat Hanh

3. "Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more." —Mother Teresa 

4. “Mindfulness is about love and loving life. When you cultivate this love, it gives you clarity and compassion for life, and your actions happen in accordance with that.” —Jon Kabat-Zinn, MD

5. “Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patience.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

6. “Buddhist mindfulness is about the present, but I also think it’s about being real. Being awake to everything. Feeling like nothing can hurt you if you can look it straight on.” —Krista Tippett

7. “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” —Henry David Thoreau

8. “Mindfulness can help people of any age. That’s because we become what we think.” —Goldie Hawn

9. “Mindfulness brings contentment not by consuming more externally, but by harvesting more from within and by sharing more without.” —Rohini Nilekani

10. “Look past your thoughts, so you may drink the pure nectar of This Moment.” —Rumi

11. “The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” —Tara Brach

12. “Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.” —Jack Kornfield

13. “Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” —Pema Chödrön

14. “Open the window of your mind. Allow the fresh air, new lights and new truths to enter.” —Amit Ray

15. "Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." —Carl Jung

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