India, June 10 -- When worries start piling up, it can feel as though the mind is running on a loop. A difficult conversation, a looming deadline, or concerns about the future can keep returning long after the moment has passed.

One mindfulness practice that aims to help people step back from these thoughts is called Leaves on a Stream meditation. The exercise is widely used in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a psychological approach developed by psychologist Steven C. Hayes.

Rather than encouraging people to push away unwanted thoughts, the exercise teaches them to observe those thoughts without getting caught up in them.

The practice uses a simple mental image.

Imagine yourself sitting beside a gently flowing stream. Every ...