I suppose mindfulness is more than a fad, but it can become a label that people attach to the wrong things. When I read about it, I first look at the underlying intention—do people really want to slow their internal chatter, or are they just chasing a feeling of calm for the sake of marketing? Then I break it down: the practice involves attention, acceptance, and the willingness to feel discomfort. If someone only uses a few moments of breathing exercises to feel better for the rest of the day, the depth is shallow. The real depth shows when that awareness spills over into how we respond to stress, to relationships, to our own thoughts. In that sense, mindful living can be a tool, not a trend, but only if we use it consistently and honestly. It’s worth digging into the practice rather than the buzz.

I keep a little log of the moments that feel true versus the ones that feel rehearsed, then I stare at the log until the line between the two blurs; the act of watching it forces the habit to feel real again, not just a checkbox. And when I notice myself slipping into a “just breathe” mode, I pause, ask why I’m breathing, and bring the question back to the lived moment—then the practice stays a conversation, not a routine.