Mindfulness is often mistaken to be simply thought-observing, as in literally observing one\u2019s thoughts.\u00a0 On the contrary, it entails at least a dozen practices for different types of people and purposes.\u00a0 Whichever practice we use, mindfulness is an awareness of our present-moment experience (mentally, emotionally, and physically) with the quality of curiosity, acceptance, and conscious choice as well as a set of techniques to cultivate this awareness.\u00a0 It\u2019s almost like a scientific approach to the moment in which we become the curious, nonjudgmental observer of our present-moment experience, rather than relying on autopilot assumptions and reactions.\u00a0 This helps us live more consciously and fully.<\/p>\n
Curiosity entails bringing a beginner\u2019s mind of playful exploration, allowing a fresh perspective.\u00a0 Acceptance means letting things be instead of trying to control them.\u00a0 And choice requires making conscious decisions about what thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations we want to entertain, rather than automatically being driven by the sheer momentum of them.\u00a0 You can\u2019t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf, right?\u00a0 Being mindful is about taking what comes into your head, giving it appropriate attention, and letting it be, so you can focus on the task at hand and improve your situation.\u00a0 It\u2019s about putting some space between stimulus and response, so you can consciously act instead of react to the latest piece of information.<\/p>\n
Where to start?\u00a0 There are many practices, including practices for thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, just to name a few.\u00a0 Whichever you try, it\u2019ll help you run by the commentary in your head, emotional reactions, and physical sensations or urges.\u00a0 Then we are more present with what is actually happening here and now, and we have more conscious choice.\u00a0 We can proceed from that home base, aligned with our deeper wisdom and values.\u00a0 While mindfulness is by no means a cure-all, it can be one great tool for many purposes, accessible any time, anywhere as a great tool to skillfully meet the myriad stresses of modern daily life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mindfulness is often mistaken to be simply thought-observing, as in literally observing one\u2019s thoughts.\u00a0 On the contrary, it entails at least a dozen practices for different types of people and purposes.\u00a0 Whichever practice we use, mindfulness is an awareness of our present-moment experience (mentally, emotionally, and physically) with the quality of curiosity, acceptance, and conscious […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n