Mindfulness is the practice of bringing our focus and attention to a focal point with intention.
Our minds, hearts and bodies are programmed to present us information all day, every day. It is on us to practice a healthy relationship to these information providers so we can live with purpose and meaning, instead of on autopilot.
Have you ever been in a meeting and your mind wandered off to the grocery list or what’s for dinner? Have you ever noticed your shoulders have been shrugged all day, but not until they start aching? Or maybe you’ve dressed in the morning and been plagued by appearance related insecurities. These experiences are completely human and absolutely normal, and, with mindfulness, we can become aware of the distracting thoughts, the harmful body positions and the uncomfortable emotions and actively choose to return to the speaker in the meeting, drop our shoulders and honor our insecurities without letting them dictate our outfit choice or self esteem.
Mindfulness allows our thoughts, emotions and physical sensations to be buckled up safely in the car, while our intentional self is in the driver’s seat, steering the wheel.
How do we practice?
Each mindfulness goal and/or intention will have it’s own nuanced practice, however, all practices are relative:
1. We notice our internal experience.
2. We find grounding.
3. We make intentional choices.
Mindful Attitudes and Practices
Awareness
Meditation
Impermanence
Patience
Compassion
Intention
Wise Speech
Non-Judging
Emotion Surfing
Generosity
Non-Assuming
Gratitude
Acceptance
Non-Striving
Letting Go
Non-Attachment
Trust
Responding vs Reacting
Body Attunement
Value Based Living
Commitment
Check out THE SCIENCE page for more information about neurological impacts of mindfulness.
“When you carry conflict states around with you they can occupy and compete for your mental workspace and attentional resources. You’re so busy carrying that load that very few attentional resources remain to overcome automatic tendencies.”
– AMISHI JHA PHD