Hi Quirkywords,
The concept of mindfulness is relatively new to the western way of thinking. Like all things that do work, it has been exploited and (as TheAbyss feels) rammed down our throats. Those intent on cashing in on it have turned it into a complicated process, perhaps in order to be perceived as knowledgeable and gain influence. Everybody seems to have an opinion as to how to practice it. Instead of being, it has been turned into a lot of doing...which defies the purpose entirely. For example, noticing an arising thought is mindfulness. Throwing it in a bin is acting on that thought, becoming entangled in it : judging it as undesirable, tossing it out (an act of repression) and wanting it to stay on the trash heap. That's a lot of emotions involved...the opposite of mindfulness.
I agree with Hsp. At its best, it is awareness of both the external and internal worlds. As long as it remains pure perception, that is emotion free (that's the catch !). The mind rules via the emotions. Suppressing those cannot work (we are not robots). Watching them acknowledges their existence. In that brief moment of observation, they temporarily disappear. It is a here it goes moment, as opposed to here I go. Detachment.
Much pressure is self-imposed, wanting to achieve too much too soon. But taming the mind is incredibly difficult. It takes years of patient, consistent work.
We want results, control over a rogue beast. It doesn't take many attempts to take measure of the brute force we are dealing with, of how devious it is. So we throw our hands up and declare it is "not for me". And so the master wins over its slave.
Keeping it simple, immersing ourselves in the moment (music, exercise, art, nature...whatever can easily capture and anchor full attention is a good start. Engaging the senses in a simple activity like washing up dishes, feeling the temperature of the water, the soapiness, the hardness of food bits stuck on a plate, smelling the washing up liquid, noticing bubbles form into patterns, the shifting of the patterns etc... anchors the mind instead of letting it wander where it will.
