Mindfulness has become something of a catch phrase over the past few years, and rightfully so.

When developed as a habit, mindfulness has the potential to radically reshape your life and help you to become more aware of your thoughts and actions. It allows you to accept the world as it is, and move more consistently into a state of inner peace and happiness.

As if that weren’t enough, it also helps you to appreciate more fully the details of your environment, so that you can lead a richer and more fulfilling life, every single day.

Related Post: Learn How To Use Mindfulness To Increase Your Awareness.

These claims might sound like a tall order, but they are firmly grounded by innumerable studies.

In this post, I simply want to share a really great, simple explanation of why mindfulness is important, articulated by author Dan Harris, of the book 10% Happier.

Browse our complete list of mindfulness exercises to learn how you can become more mindful, starting today.

Why Mindfulness Is The New Superpower

In this video, Dan Harris explains some of the core concepts behind mindfulness, and why it is so important.

He says that mindfulness is a powerful daily practice because it helps you to know what’s going on in your mind, without needing to act on your ego-based impulses.

If you are like most people, you respond automatically to triggers and stimuli in the world around you. Outside events automatically cause you to embody an emotion, and then that emotion takes over and drives you to action. This is most noticeable when you become exceedingly upset or angry, often for very little reason.

When you are mindful, however, you are aware of what is going on in your mind. This is key, because it leads you to a more empowered state of choice, helping you to gain control over how you respond to the world around you.

Want to learn more? Try these tips to help you live with a beginner’s mind, or explore our top-rated mindfulness exercises for the 5 senses.