Mindfulness: the key to happiness?

Every now and then someone claims to have found the 'key to happiness' - that special ingredient that is often absent in our daily lives, the missing link that prohibit us to enjoy and experience life to the full.

Many scientists are of the opinion that mindfulness - truly living in the present - might be the golden egg we're all looking for.   Bishop, Lau, and colleagues (2007) offered a two component model of mindfulness in Wikipedia:

"Mindfulness involves the self-regulation of attention so that it is maintained on immediate experience, thereby allowing for increased recognition of mental events in the present moment. Mindfulness further involves adopting a particular orientation toward one’s experiences in the present moment, an orientation that is characterized by curiosity, openness, and acceptance".

Although I don't think that there is, or ever will be one key element that will guarantee happiness I do think that an awareness of living in the present moment - truly experiencing what you are currently busy with - might bring you a bit closer to a feeling of contentment. 

Most of the troubles and difficulties that occupy our minds on a daily basis are concerning events that happened in the past already (and that we cannot change) or regarding events that might happen in the future - it is not reality, therefore.  If we can practice living in the present moment - truly experiencing only the good (or the bad or the ugly) of this particular moment - worries about the past and/or the present will occupy its righteous place (in the past or the present).

Is mindfulness the key to happiness?  I don't think so, but it might bring us one (or even a few) step(s) closer to really living life to the full.

Read more on Mindfulness and Kindness:  Inner sources of freedom and happiness by Jim Hopper, PhD.