How do you feel about the concept of mindfulness?

I like the concept and practice of mindfulness, I think it's useful for many people who tend to get stuck in the past or future trip a lot. Like any mental practice, it's not for everyone. I never used therapy for it even though my last T is quite into it... by the time I got to therapy, I'd had years of experience with things like mindfulness and meditation. Had a great teacher for it and learned from reading and practicing.

I have found it to be one of the most useful, healing, and constructive aspects of psychotherapy alongside the therapeutic relationship.

While it annoys me, it has been incredibly helpful for me. It helps ground me when my anxiety is going crazy. The part that seems silly to me is that we have to practice it when we're calm, but I understand that makes it easier to utilize when upset.

An example of how I would use it is that, often driving in traffic really stresses me out, especially when I'm worried about being late to something. When I can focus on the present moment of how my hands feel on the steering wheel, the song on the radio or the sounds of the environment, even just my breath, it helps get me back in the present moment. Stressing out about traffic isn't going to make the cars go away, the lights change any faster, or get me there any sooner- all it does it get me worked up, in a bad mood, or even hyperventilating. I will arrive when I'm able to, so need need to stress myself out even more. Just my thoughts...

It annoys me too, especially the facile way it's bandied about as the cure for all illnesses lately.

However, I tried meditating daily for a while on the recommendation of my T. I didn't tell her I was trying it until I'd been doing it for two months and started to notice an improvement. Two months was way longer than I'd ever tried anything else!

My mind used to go 1,000 miles a minute and with meditation it slows down to only 800. 750 even. It slows down all day, not just while I'm meditating. Given that I can get this benefit with less than half an hour a day, and without medication side effects, I think that's a pretty good deal. (I still take medications though. I haven't had to add any for over a year and that's an accomplishment in itself.)

Never been of any use to me. chaotic mind has had a greater benefit. But then I'm that type of person.

I find it helpful when I am feeling dissociative and stressed... I don't so much do the exercises, but just focus my awareness on the moment. It helps if I am doing something physical so i can focus my awareness on the sensations of the here and now.
I had a day last week when I was very stressed, very disconnected, and was struggling to get grounded, so I went for a walk in the forest, then swam in the pool, then lay in the sun feeling the warmth on my skin. Then I walked up to the glade and stretched and did some yoga. In each of them I 'practiced mindfulness'... I kept my awareness on the present moment, the physical sensations, the here and now. I felt infinitely better afterwards - much more present, aware and connected.
That is what mindfulness is to me.