Meditation is the awareness of the soul. By becoming aware of the soul, we can bring light to our darkness and connect with our inner self in a way that cultivates relationship, compassion, presence, and love. Through this connection with our inner self, we can send compassion to our outer self, family, loved ones, community, country, and the rest of the beings that inhabit this beautiful planet we call home. Presence and awareness are aspects of being mindful. Through the practice of mindfulness meditation, we can learn to become more aware of the stories we tell ourselves.