If you're looking for a little inspiration and motivation to live more mindfully, check out these mindfulness quotes. From Buddha to Eckhart Tolle, these thinkers have a lot to say about being present in the moment and living with intention.

See which quotes resonate with you and see if you can incorporate them into your own life and mindfulness practice.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in a moment and focusing your awareness on what you're feeling and thinking. It can help you in everyday life by making it easier to tap into those moments where it felt like all of the chaos around us was melting away.

What are the Benefits of Mindfulness?

By actively engaging with the now, rather than worrying about the past or future, we can better appreciate life’s small wonders and take joy in our own accomplishments.

With the practice of mindfulness, even mundane tasks like commuting to work or doing our household chores can become opportunities to be mentally present and productive without stressing out.

Overall, living a more mindful life is an incredible tool that we can use to deal with difficult emotions, create positive daily habits, and take control of our lives.

How can you get started? Take an inspirational mindfulness quote from the list below and think about it. What does it mean to you? How can you sit with the feelings it brings up?

The only way to start being more mindful is to start with little, achievable actions. Consider journaling about one of the quotes below or repeating it our loud.

List of mindfulness quotes that will inspire you to be more present

If you’ve been feeling the grind lately, it may be time to hit pause and take some moments to focus on being mindful. There are many inspiring quotes on mindfulness that can help bring a sense of perspective and stillness into your day-to-day life.

Here are a few to remind you to slow down and take in the present moment.

1. “Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” – Mother Teresa

2. “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.” – Henry David Thoreau

3. “In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.” – Buddha

4. “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

5. “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha

6. “Be patient with yourself. Nothing in nature blooms all year.” – Unknown

7. “The more peacefully you can live in the present moment, the more energy you will have for your inner work.” – Eckhart Tolle

8. “Don't let the past steal your present. Your past has not defined, deterred or defeated you. It has only strengthened who you are today.” – Unknown

9. “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” – Lao Tzu

10. “The greatest challenge in life is discovering who you are. The second greatest is being happy with what you find.” – Unknown

11. The real meditation practice is how we live our lives from moment to moment to moment. — Jon Kabat-Zinn

12. Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body. Then look at, or think of, the person triggering this emotion: With mindfulness, you can see that she is unhappy, that she is suffering. You can see her wrong perceptions. You can see that she is not beautiful when she says things that are unkind. — Thích Nhất Hạnh

13. To remember non-attachment is to remember what freedom is all about. If we get attached, even to a beautiful state of being, we are caught, and ultimately we will suffer. We work to observe anything that comes our way, experience it while it is here, and be able to let go of it. — Sharon Salzberg

14. The Buddha taught that we're not actually in control, which is a pretty scary idea. But when you let things be as they are, you will be a much happier, more balanced, compassionate person. — Pema Chödrön

15. Feeling compassion for ourselves in no way releases us from responsibility for our actions. Rather, it releases us from the self-hatred that prevents us from responding to our life with clarity and balance. — Tara Brach

16. Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. – Marcus Aurelius

17. For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

18. You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. – Jon Kabat-Zinn

19. Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved. – Soren Kierkegaard

20. To live in the present moment is a miracle. — Thich Nhat Hanh

21. Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. — Pema Chödrön

22. Life isn't as serious as the mind makes it out to be. — Eckhart Tolle

23. Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. – Dalai Lama

24. The moment you accept what troubles you’ve been given, the door will open. – Rumi

25. Life is a balance of holding on and letting go. — Rumi

26. You are not your thoughts; you are the awareness behind them. – Eckhart Tolle

27. When you become mindful, joy and peace dawn within you. – Thich Nhat Hanh

28. The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best. — Epictetus

29. In life, there will be people who hurt you and disappoint you, but remember the lesson they taught you rather than the pain. – Unknown

30. Don’t worry about what other people think; just keep on being yourself. – Unknown

31. Happiness is not a destination; it is a journey of self-discovery and growth. — Unknown

32. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. — C.S Lewis

33. The best things in life aren’t things; they are moments, people, experiences, and memories that you can carry with you forever. — Unknown

34. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; that’s how you learn and grow. — Unknown

35. Life is a journey, not a race, so take your time and enjoy the ride. — Unknown

36. Life is a gift, so make sure you take the time to appreciate it. — Unknown

37. Believe in yourself and trust that you will find your way. – Unknown

38. Be present in each moment and savor the experience of living life fully. — Unknown

39. Find joy in every day, and don’t take anything for granted. — Unknown

40. Life is an adventure, so keep exploring and discovering new things every day. — Unknown

41. Have faith in yourself and trust that you will be able to make your dreams come true. — Unknown

42. Life is full of surprises, so stay open to new possibilities and don’t miss out on the amazing moments it has to offer. — Unknown

43. Find strength in facing your fears and have the courage to keep moving forward. — Unknown

44. Life is a journey and each day brings something new, so make the most of every moment. — Unknown

45. Live authentically and be true to yourself; that’s where real happiness lies. — Unknown

46. Don’t let fear stop you from living your best life; have courage and embrace the unknown. — Unknown

47. Follow your heart and never give up on your dreams; there are no limits to what you can do. — Unknown

48. Don’t forget to take time for yourself; self-care is essential for a healthy, balanced life. — Unknown

49. Life is a beautiful journey, so savor every moment and enjoy the ride. — Unknown

50. Learn to laugh at yourself and life; it’s one of the best remedies for finding joy in the present. — Unknown

Remember, mindfulness isn't something you can do perfectly—it's an ongoing practice of learning how to be more conscious and present in your everyday life.

That may be the real secret of life: the practice, the progress, the presence. Hopefully these powerful quotes resonated with you. Try hanging your favorite mindfulness quotes around your home or workspace as reminders.

5 ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine

An inspirational quote is just the first step on your journey. Mindfulness means more than just one thing, as it is a practice that is constantly evolving as you learn and grow.

The best way to incorporate the practice into your daily life is through little moments. When you're feeling the anxiety of life, these practices can help ground you and bring you back to the actual moment.

Mindfulness can be a great way to restore balance and reduce stress in our lives no matter our emotional state – but it's often hard to find the time. Try making it part of your daily routine with these tips.

Mindfulness Meditation

Start your day by setting aside a few minutes for mindful breathing or mediation practice; this will help set your intention for the day ahead and break the automatic chains of thinking that can lead to rumination and distraction.

If you feel stuck, pick one of your favorite quotes from the above list and think about why it resonates to you.

Conscious Breathing

Introduce little moments of mindfulness throughout during the day – such as waking up each time you shift position while sitting at your desk or taking five mindful breaths in between tasks.

Being aware of our breath helps us be mindful of our body as a whole.

Turning Off Technology

The little things add up - and we spend a lot of times on screens. Let yourself have periods during the day where switch off from all technology.

You may find you're more able to give your full attention to things when you don't have the distraction of electronics to pull you away.

Journaling

Take a moment to reflect on your feelings and thoughts from the day. Write down anything that comes up. Giving yourself this space to process your day can be very impactful.

Appreciating Nature

Put away your to-do list and take some time to just be with yourself in nature – whether this is being in a park, forest, or even just lying on the grass outside on your lunch break! It can be as easy as going on a walk!

Time is our most precious gift, and too often we get caught up in today's rush or tomorrow's to-do. In acceptance of the present experience you may just find the peace you're yearning for.

The benefits of mindfulness for your mental and physical health

Mindfulness can provide a wealth of health benefits. From improving concentration, decreasing stress and alleviating feelings of depression, mindfulness can work wonders for both your mental and physical health.

Focused breathing exercises that are in the core of mindfulness practices help to slow down our brains and create a sense of inner peace while the gains made in increased self-awareness often result in lessening impulsive behavior, better decision-making, and even improved relationships with those around us.

Living a more mindful life also helps to be more aware of our own physical state allowing us to tune into subtler signals such as fatigue or pain when they arise, thus reducing risks for certain injury or illness.

All it takes is just a few minutes each day to reap the benefits - why not give it a go today?

Having a mindful routine is a great remind to stay present in our lives, open ourselves up to the wonders of life around us, and improve our physical and mental health.

To sum it up, take these words of wisdom from Albert Einstein: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

No matter where you decide to incorporate mindful practices into your daily routine, start small and don’t be afraid to explore different approaches that work for you.

Remember: practicing mindfulness isn’t about changing yourself or achieving perfection—it’s about sinking into the richness of life inside of you and all around you.

Each day presents an opportunity to explore something new and find more joy in each moment. So pop on your meditative music, breathe deeply, and focus on the beauty that exists both within and without.

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