Mindfulness is a way of learning to relate directly to whatever is happening in our lives, a way of taking charge of our lives, a way of doing something for ourselves that no one else will, or can, do for us — systematically and consciously working with the challenges and demands of everyday life.
The goal of mindfulness practice is to gain a first-hand understanding of the way things are, without reliance on the opinions or theories of others — to have a direct, intimate experience, one which gives rise to that deep sense of calm that comes from knowing something for oneself, beyond any doubt.