Many of us come to mindfulness hoping we'll be able to stop our minds wandering.
But Professor Mark Williams offers a different perspective.
In this clip, he describes unfinished business as "a flicker in the corner of the mind" that keeps drawing our attention back.
Whether it's an email you haven't answered, a difficult conversation, or tomorrow's to-do list, the mind is designed to keep returning to things that seem important or unresolved.
Understanding this can change the way we relate to distraction.
Rather than seeing mind-wandering as a mistake, we can recognise it as part of being human.
"It's important for the mind to do this. So it's not a mistake."
What did you notice in this reflection from Mark?
▶️ Catch up on all our ‘Between the Lines’ sessions over on our YouTube channel and join our next sessions with Vidyamala Burch OBE and Jon Kabat-Zinn over on our website under ‘Guest talks’
The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
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We’re a not-for-profit organisation helping people achieve greater well-being and improved mental health through research-based mindfulness.
We partner with the University of Oxford to develop programmes combining mindfulness and psychological science. We collaborate with a number of international organisations to achieve our vision of a world in which there is universal access to mindfulness and a greater understanding and acceptability of the impact of mindful behaviour.
"Let yourself off the hook of your practice. It's not a hook, it's an invitation." - Mark Williams
After decades of teaching and researching mindfulness, Professor Mark Williams still describes practice as a work in progress. That's something many of us need to hear!
We can put pressure on ourselves to meditate regularly, stay consistent, or feel we're doing it ‘properly’. But as Mark reminds us, mindfulness isn't another thing to achieve.
Practice will wax and wane. There'll be easier seasons and more challenging ones. The invitation is to return with curiosity, kindness and patience, when you're ready.
What helps you reconnect with practice when life gets busy?
▶️ Catch up on all our ‘Between the Lines’ sessions over on our YouTube channel and join our next sessions with Vidyamala Burch OBE and Jon Kabat-Zinn over on our website under 'Guest talks'.
05/08/2026
📘Explore Mindfulness for Health with Vidyamala Burch OBE
‘Mindfulness for Health’ by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penman is a practical guide to relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring well-being.
Based on Vidyamala’s own experience of managing a long-term health condition and clinical evidence of mindfulness meditation’s effectiveness for coping with pain, the book reveals a series of core concepts and simple practices that can be incorporated into daily life.
Join us for this very special edition of our Between the Lines guest speaker events, where we’ll first explore the book together in our community session before welcoming Vidyamala for a live conversation, answering your questions and discussing themes.
🗓️ Wednesday 19 & 26 August 2026
📍Online via Zoom
⏱️12:00 – 12:45 UK Time
✨ This event is included in the Oxford Mindfulness Members’ Programme. Non-members are welcome to join the event for a small admin fee.
Visit our website to book your place.
03/08/2026
📚 Vidyamala Burch OBE joins us at ‘Between the Lines’!
We warmly invite you to join our upcoming Between the Lines sessions, where we will explore Vidyamala's inspiring book, 'Mindfulness for Health: A Practical Guide to Relieving Pain, Reducing Stress and Restoring Wellbeing’.
▪️ Community Session: Wednesday 19 August 2026, 12:00 – 12:45 (UK time)
▪️ Author Session with Vidyamala: Wednesday 26 August 2026, 12:00 – 12:45 (UK time)
💬 The first session is a facilitated community discussion to reflect on the book, share insights, and explore questions together. Themes from this session will then be brought into a live conversation with Vidyamala in the second session.
💫 This online series is part of our work to build strong, connected, mindful communities. For Oxford Mindfulness members, participation is included as part of your membership.
Non-members are warmly invited to join our Members’ Programme or register for this event with a small admin fee.
Book your place via the link in the comments 👇
22/07/2026
A little update that’s making a big difference:
We’re thrilled to share that our free Live Online Meditations are now available directly in the Oxford Mindfulness App 🎉
No more hunting through inboxes for Zoom links! Just open the app and join a live meditation session wherever it suits you.
Our trained teachers look forward to welcoming you to our weekday sessions, held twice a day at 13:00 and 19:00 UK time.
Our Live Online Meditation sessions are completely free, both in the app and via our website. As a charity, it’s important to us that everyone has access to high-quality mindfulness, whatever their circumstances.
Head to your App Store to download the app and practice with us today.
21/07/2026
We LOVE hearing how the Oxford Mindfulness App has made a difference to your practice.
And did you know that our free Live Online Meditation sessions are now available directly through the app too, so you can access your meditation practices in one place 🙌.
Just one small way we’re embodying our mission to make mindfulness more accessible.
Have you been enjoying the app? Review us on your app store, we’d love to hear about your practice.
17/07/2026
"The course has helped me feel less isolated."
As we get older, maintaining connection, purpose and well-being can sometimes feel more challenging.
Our Living Mindfully in Later Life course is designed specifically for people aged 55+, offering practical mindfulness tools to help you meet life's changes with greater kindness and confidence.
✅ Learn skills for emotional resilience
✅ Develop greater appreciation for everyday moments
✅ Connect with others in a supportive group
📅 7-week online course starting 1 September
Find out and apply more via the link in the comments
16/07/2026
Life brings many changes as we get older: retirement, shifts in health, changing family roles, loss, and new beginnings.
Our Living Mindfully in Later Life course (for ages 55+) offers practical mindfulness skills to help you navigate life's ups and downs with greater balance, kindness and resilience.
Join us for this new 7-week online course and discover how small moments of awareness can open the door to greater ease, appreciation and connection. ✨
📅 Starts 1 September
💻 Live online via Zoom
Learn more via the link in comments 🔗
🔗
14/07/2026
Have you sent your submission for our Annual Gathering Poster Presentation Evening yet?
❝It’s a joy to see diverse work from around the world emerging from this vibrant, caring community. I was touched to realise how many people are contributing to this collective masterpiece—a shared, nurturing journey of mindfulness. I’d be happy to share my work at a future gathering and continue contributing to this evolving dialogue. ❞ - UK Annual Gathering Participant, 2025
If you’re working on impactful projects or innovative research in mindfulness, we invite you to share your work at our Poster Presentation Evening during this year’s Annual Gathering, taking place Tuesday 22 September at St. Hugh’s College, Oxford, UK.
We’re accepting submissions in two categories:
🤝 Impact posters: Sharing practical applications of mindfulness in real-world settings
🔎 Research posters: Academic and research-based work in the field
Connect with peers, and contribute to the wider mindfulness community, head to our website and submit by 16 August 2026.
Is running mindfulness? Gardening? Playing music?
Is mindfulness special? 🤔
In Episode 7 of Getting Real with Mindfulness, Claire and Victoria explore these questions as well as the differences between mindfulness and other well-being activities.
They chat about being in a flow state and switching off and how mindfulness can help us to work with our challenges.
▶️ Watch the full episode over on our YouTube channel or listen wherever you get your podcasts!
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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