There are numerous meditation traditions throughout the world, each with their own history, philosophy, and culture. Generally speaking, meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. Through meditation, you attempt to achieve a mental state that involves being fully focused on "the now."
While in this state, you can acknowledge and accept your thoughts, feelings, and sensations, without judgment. The goal in meditation is not to eliminate your thoughts, but to get more comfortable becoming a "witness" to those thoughts — noting them, remaining calm, and then letting them pass.
While meditation is an intentional exercise that we practice, mindfulness is being in this state during our daily life. Mindfulness can be practiced at any time, wherever we are and whatever we are doing. It’s showing up and being fully engaged in the here and now, noticing and paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
Research shows that practicing meditation can have a positive impact on both body and the mind. Studies have found that it can be an effective tool to help improve your mood and outlook, reduce stress, modulate anxiety, improve sleep, facilitate emotional control, and even increase pain tolerance.