Anxiety

What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation?

A plain-language explanation of mindfulness versus meditation, including how the two relate and why people often confuse them.

A mindfulness and meditation comparison visual

Meditation is usually a practice. Mindfulness is usually a quality of awareness you can train and carry into ordinary life.

Why people mix them up

Mindfulness is often developed through meditation, so the concepts overlap constantly in practice.

Bottom line

Meditation is one common way to build mindfulness, but mindfulness is not limited to formal sitting practice.