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It is difficult to remain mindful when the world around you is relatively calm and peaceful, early in the morning or late in the day when you sit for your daily practice. It can seem impossible to be mindful when you are in the middle of your busy day, with children demanding attention or work pressures mounting or stuck in a traffic jam. These times of high demand are times when it is even more helpful to be paying attention on purpose, in the present moment and without judgment. You might notice that this definition does not require that you remain calm in the face of these pressures. It is normal, during the busyness of the day, to have a range of feelings that reflect the interaction between the yourself and your environment. If you are mindful, while you have many feelings, you will be able to allow them to arise as they are appropriate and then let them go when they are no longer helpful. If some event irritates you, that irritation does not need to be carried over to the next event that does not normally cause irritation. Mindfully, you are aware of the source of the irritation, make a decision that is appropriate to it, and let go of the circumstance to be more fully aware of the next situation. It is this ability to stay with the present circumstances that results in a more balanced and even temperament for those who are mindful. John Weaver, Psy.D.