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Mindfulness: What Is It? (Even if you dont know please post so we can help grow the forums accordingly)

blondguy
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Hi Everybody

This is only the basic dictionary definition...

"Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment without judgement"

  • Please be as blunt you wish....If you dont have an idea about mindfulness it would be great if you could let us know
  • If mindfulness hasnt worked/or is too broad a concept for you it would great if you can let us know your thoughts too
  • If mindfulness has helped you, please help others to help themselves by posting how you have embraced this mindset

It goes without saying that the forums are a judgement free zone and I really hope that everyone can jump in and have their say

Your input is highly valued no matter how you respond to this topic. There are no experts here...New Posters are Most Welcome!!

My Kindest Thoughts

Paul

1,355 Replies 1,355

Sandra

It sounds like you are either a counsellor or very experienced in mindfulness.

I am just a simple person who doesn't have the same grasp as you do and I find some of the language to be a bit overwhelming.

I thank you for your time and effort in trying to educate me.

Quirky

Hey Elizabeth

Thanks for the great post! Acknowledging that different techniques work for some and not for others. This is really the bottom line where improving our quality of life for sure...My Best. Paul

Sandra..Hi! Thanks for the helpful post....Sandra mentioned " Every time I switch on the kettle, the water boils. It is predictable. But in the mental world we can intervene and change a long established pattern of reactivity. That's where mindfulness comes in" AND "Change is hard at first, but after you've been through it several times it gets easier"

Hey Corny! Your last sentence spoke volumes "Its powerful if practiced softly but regularly" Good to see you too!!

Hi Quirky! I think you have more wisdom and ability than you give yourself credit for. To have you contribute is great stuff! I really had no idea what was going on with the various terminology either when I started here in 2016.

The longer we are here the more we learn and develop a better understanding of what we are capable of. I actually find the forums highly therapeutic

Thanks everybody for the great posts! Paul 🙂

Thank you for a great thread blondguy.

Just what I needed today, as I continue to struggle and learn.

You've inspired me to go back to a free course "Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance" by two professors from Monash University. Its on FutureLearn. (I'm psyching myself up here after reading this thread...)

All the best everyone, what a great pool of good advice.

Hi QldMouse!

Great to see you as always 🙂

You have just made my day that you have found this thread inspirational.

Thanks for the tip re the free course at Monash "Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance" (Futurelearn)

Great Attitude Mouse

my kindest

Paul

Hi Corny. I understand your instinct to shy away from mindfulness when a person is unwell. Perhaps your concern would be addressed by them seeking help from a therapist. They would benefit from guidance and support.

Also, for those who shy away from their inner states and prefer avoidance there is ACT, which is acceptance and commitment therapy. Here the goal is to face our thoughts and feelings and act in spite of them.

Consider that nothing will change if you do nothing but avoid your reactions. Mindfulness can provide helpful strategies like name and tame your feelings. It can combine with other cognitive skills like disputing thoughts, becoming aware of assumptions and many other ways to improve the mind.

I subscribe to the adage, nothing ventured, nothing gained. And you'll always get what you've always got unless you try something different. We can change old ways of reacting and effort is key. But the rewards are worth it. To put an end to a mental hell or unlock a mental prison. To live in serenity. Out with the old and in with the new.

I have learned from experience and reading. I make no claims to be a counsellor. But I think that I have found my truth and that means the world to me. My truth about mental health is that mindfulness and cbt work for me. Sandra.

qldmouse,

good to meet you. Thanks for the advice about the course- is it online?

I am still struggling with mindfulness but I am prepared to give it another go.

Paul- thanks for your kind words.

Cornstarch- thanks for sharing your experience.

HSP- thanks for sharing your experience.

Quirky

Hi Sandra

Thanks for the helpful post and a good one too 🙂

HSP (Sandra) mentioned " Mindfulness can provide helpful strategies like name and tame your
feelings. It can combine with other cognitive skills like disputing
thoughts, becoming aware of assumptions and many other ways to improve the mind
"

Quirky....You are not the only one struggling with 'Mindfulness' either. Thats why I wrote this thread topic as I am still getting a 'handle' on it too...

Thanks again Sandra & Quirky 🙂

my kindest

Paul

Not sure this is a mindfulness moment but sometimes on my morning walk in the bush opposite my house, I just hug a gum tree and feel the rough and smooth bark and smel the leaves and just concentrate on the feeling of thr tree. Is that a sort of mindfulness. I find it calming. I don't care if anyone sees me!!

Quirky

Hey Quirky

Thats great stuff. If you can spend time near that tree and even just stare at it without any other thoughts coming into your mind ....like you have done....then thats it 🙂

You were in the moment and nothing else mattered...spot on! Thats mindfulness...

I do the same out in my backyard. I just stand on my paving and stare at the trees and retaining walls thinking about how good it looks or what I can do to adjust the landscaping to make it better.

You were in the moment Quirky....Nice1

Even if you are pulling out weeds.....our mind can just stay in 'neutral' and thus we take in the moment.

Its finding some peace as you have just done.

Cool Bananas Quirky

Paul

Paul

I like that name

cool bananas quirky!!

It is funn y that many people do mindfulness without knowing- does that matter. I think it used be called concentrating and focusing . People had hobbies and spent time on them

if someone is on the computer in the moment focusing on reading or looking at something is that mindfulness or does it have be a non electronic thing??

cool bananas quirky