Have you noticed there is a Mindfulness craze lately? Have you been wondering if it is just another quick fix or something only Yogi’s do? Well, you are right! But it is everything else in-between. Do your research. All over the world people are jumping on the Mindfulness band wagon. Professional athletes, the Armed Forces, CEO’s, movie stars, spiritual leaders, elementary – grad school students.
Why are so many different types of people from all over the world discovering and using Mindfulness to improve their well-being? Let’s start with where this concept started. 1000’s of years ago contemplative religious and non-religious traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and Stoicism, discovered the benefits of meditation. Yeah, I know using the M words can scare folks off. It sounds kind of woowoo or boring to some, even scary because your friends and family might think you’ve joined the local coocoo club. But, come on, deep inside there is a curiousness about finding a little space and time to meditate isn’t there? It almost makes you feel naughty or frivolous to sit quietly and supposedly do nothing! After awhile I found myself almost giddy about heading off to meditate. like having a secret recharging station and mental/physical/emotional vacation club for one
Mindfulness can be defined in many ways. Often descriptors such as: Paying attention on purpose to the present moment. Looking at life and self with loving kindness and nonjudgement. A curious and gentle awareness of ones thoughts as neither good or bad. Being present in body and breath.
Focusing our minds to be aware of what that awful negative tape loop is repeating over and over is a key to clear your mind for Mindful Studies.
You are probably already having moments or spans of time when you are Mindful but maybe you didn’t label it that way. For example: My husband Jay and I are musicians. When we practice alone, rehearse in a band, or perform on stage our default mode is Mindfulness. Paying attention on purpose to each moment as it flows through us and the music. Musicians know that if we aren’t Mindful or focused mistakes happen. Nobody wants to play or sing a wrong note, forget the lyrics, and derail your bandmates on stage. Truly being focused on your body executing the notes and the music between the notes is a Mindfulness practice. Who knew? We thought we were just enjoying making music together!
So, what is it that you LOVE to do, find exciting and relaxing at the same time, where your mind and body maybe fully aware? Some answers my high school students answer gave are: Shooting hoops, painting, swimming, and journaling.
Can you be Mindful mowing the lawn, washing the dishes, driving your car at rush hour? You bet!
What we may normally consider as dull or unpleasant tasks are some of the best places to practice present moment awareness. [BTW, if you are driving your car I highly recommend practicing loving kindness and non-judgement of self and others. Muttering under your breath about how crappy another driver is may feel good in the moment but pay attention to your body and breath. Tight muscles and shallow breathing? Instead set an intention for your drive, prior to hoping in the car, that you will on purpose be kind and patient. We all know we can’t control the other 1000 cars between us and our destination so why try? Make your car habitual Mindful practice time. See if you can even think kind thoughts about the other drivers. Because, you know they can’t hear you when you’re critiquing their lack of driver’s prowess. You might just end up at your destination no later than before and a heck of a lot calmer.]
Okay, quieting the mind. Let’s talk about that voice in your head that sounds like your personal nagger.
1st step is to see if you can hear a thought stream or tape loop racing through your mind like a TV that was left on in the back ground. We all have negative tape loops. Many times these tape loops have the words: should of, could of, not as good as, if I’d only, and your so….? Ouch, what the hell and where did this come from? Years of media, marketing, social stigmas, and societal expectations that’s where.
The first time I heard my tape loop I was shocked. There it was in the bathroom stall with me…When I should have been quietly doing my business, my tape loop was rebuking me for not being as good as the band director at the other high schools. If only I was smarter, younger, had a better budget, maybe it was all my fault the kids don’t practice enough. On and on that commercial droned and the worse I felt. Deep down I knew none of these statements were true.
Okay, tape loop, I’m turning you off. Imagining a light switch in my mind I reached for the switch and firmly flipped that sucker off. Did it work? Heck yeah it worked. My mind was silent. The reveleation that I did have control of my thoughts was freeing. Do you need to flip the switch more than once? Unless you are the Dali Lama, probably.
The more often I was able to train my brain to be quiet, the more things I became aware of in the present moment. See, the tape loop is usually beating you about the past or the future. Mindfulness is in the present. And as we know that is the only moment we truly have.