When you focus on the present moment, you’re paying attention to the things currently happening in your life. These events might range from joyous to downright heartbreaking (or anywhere in between).

If you’re going through a tough time, you might understandably wonder how increasing your awareness of these experiences can benefit you.

Mindfulness helps you recognize anxious or depressed thoughts as just that: “thoughts”. Eventually, you can learn to recognize these thoughts as you notice them and interrupt their patterns before they trap you in a spiral of distress.