Mindfulness, Mindfulness.... Where has mindfulness gone?

Mindfulness mindfulness mindfulness. Mindfulness for this, mindfulness for that. Everywhere you

turn you see or hear about mindfulness.

For example, mindfulness to become a better parent, mindfulness to become a better doctor, mindfulness to become a better lawyer, mindfulness in order to be a better student, mindfulness in order to get rid of headaches, and can you believe it mindfulness even mindfulness overcome shyness.

Yes even me! In trying to work with my publisher on an acceptable title for my book I was repeatedly told that the title must PROMISE something to the reader, something they want. I lost that battle. In the subtitle of my book it reads: "…to overcome fear and embrace compassion." This is a promise, I don't even believe.

The true mindful practice doesn't help you overcome anything. It just helps you face things better.

Like everything else that gets exploited mindfulness is now neatly package for your consumptive desires.

Its right up there on the shelf with shoes, lawn mowers, vacation packages, breakfast cereals, eyeliners, and the best diet

Everybody is touting and selling mindfulness. Step right up and get yours.

Okay let's restore some sanity here.

If you do mindfulness for some outcome you're not doing mindfulness. I'm not sure what you're doing and it may be beneficial but it is not mindfulness.

You see, the real practice all mindfulness has no outcome. You don't do mindfulness to get anywhere or achieve anything.

So why practice mindfulness?

All the great teachers (Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Toltec, Muslim, Native Peoples) have taught one thing:

The only reason to practice mindfulness is this: to wake up!!!!

That's all.

To wake up!

The more you peel back the layers of self deception and see things clearly as they truly are, in other words the more wake you become, the more you are able to live your life from an open compassionate heart, and a balanced calm mind. The benefits of this spontaneously move in all directions throughout all space and time.

Geez, Neuropsychology (Richard Davidson at UW-Madison and others) has even shown that those who simply practice mindfulness meditation (i.e. the Dalai Lama) show profound changes in the structures of their brain!

So stop all this nonsense of trying to practice mindfulness for any particular outcome.

Practice this enduring skill for its own sake, and everything else will take care of itself.

The simple yet profound practice of mindful meditation, whether on a cushion or in a chair, or in a grocery line, or talking with another, just keeps you in an open, balanced, and compassionate place that just makes this a better world.

Oh, yea, from now on I am going to avoid using the word "mindfulness." It has become so overused that we just don't know any more what we are talking about. I am not sure what I will use in its place: Presence, or Deeply wakeful…….

Until the next series of moments arrive.

Tom

Thank a red light!

Hello!

So often we (me included!) are in a perpetual hurry, our minds firmly fixed on where it is we are headed to that we often miss one of the greatest opportunities to pause and reclaim a sense of mindful presence.

I am referring to the red light! That's right. When busily driving around, take this opportunity to change your perspective. See your driving amidst traffic as an example of how to be in the flow of the events of your life.

Rather than resisting, cursing, hitting your steering wheel about the red light, step back and view it as an opportunity. After all, getting upset is not going to make the light change any faster! They are all on timers! They are really not out to make your life miserable. Your reaction is what is making you miserable.

So when you come upon a red light say: Thank you! Take this time to find your pause (if you are not familiar with how to reconnect with your pause, check it out in my book The Mindfulness Workbook: A Beginners Guide to Overcoming Fear and Embracing Compassion). Rest with your pause and make the most of what this red light is offering too you. Look around you. Notice something pleasant, put a gentle smile on your face.

Again one of many occurrences in our lives that we can take advantage of to bring a greater sense of mindful presence alive for ourselves.

Peace to you.

Tom

Every day mindfulness

Often I am asked if there are other ways to practice mindfulness than just in meditation.

YES!

Unfortunately, the way mindfulness is often portrayed leaves us thinking that mindfulness in just about meditation.

In fact mindfulness is about how to live in the world.

So here are some easy ways you can gently bring mindful attention to your everyday life:

One minute attention:

1. For one minute, stop what you are doing
2. At your desk, at a stop light, before eating a meal.
3. Relax your shoulders
4. Relax your jaw
5. Simply watch your breath
6. When finished, take a beep cleansing breath



Mindful eating:

1. Create an environment that is conducive to eating: Turn off phones, T.V., computers, etc.
2. Put a minimal amount of food on your plate.
3. Take a moment to pause and look at the food you are about to enjoy: look at the colors, shapes, and textures
4. Choose your first bite.
5. Put your utensil down, fold your hands in your lap and chew
6. Pause after you shallow before taking your next bite.

You may be surprised that you do not eat as much.


Walking mindfully.

Walking is something we also do every day. Too often we rush about oblivious to what is going on around us. We miss so much!

Here is a way to use walking as a way to awaken our senses:

1. While walking (in the grocery store, out to your car after work, to a meeting or appointment) just slow your pace down just a bit
2. Choose one of your senses and notice what is going on. What there is to see, or hear, or feel, or smell.
3. Stay with that sense for a minute.
4. Then change to another sense and again notice what that sense is picking up.



As with any practice of mindfulness, if your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the practice.