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

[blondguy]

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

[blondguy]

Hi Star. Thankyou for your experience/post again on this matter

Just to clarify...Is using mindfulness used as an escape good or bad? I stand out the backyard and 'lose' myself in the green..the birdlife etc for hours...Is that an escape?

Starwolf mentioned "many are disturbed by viewing something from a different standpoint. It
often demands questioning the one they have grown comfortable with and many are not prepared to do that"

This is an important point. Im open to learning new skills but I also agree that some have found their comfort zone and feel safe within it like you said

Thanks Star. Paul

[highlysensitivepersonhsp]

Yes, Starwolf, we are born into culture. Our young brains are no match for the forces culture applies to our thinking and behaviour. When I was young I wanted to be like everyone else and fit in with the norms of society. But my circumstances changed and I was forced to rethink the world and my place in it.

Rather than think of myself as a failure, I saw that the world was wrong. That how we live and what the world does to our body and mind is wrong. The culture is sick. It makes people sick. It destroys the planet.

It's hard to find people who see through the disaster that is the world. I see a lot of positivity bias where people ignore all that's negative about the world. There are many positive things I would not live without but there are inherent abuses that I would like to deal with.

The problem is that we do not value truth. We don't know what is true and what is good. We tend to justify the most horrendous practices. Terrorism is one example that comes to mind. It is based on religion being a source of political power. No separation of church from state when the church is based on fallacies. All that is good. All that is fair. All that is just. That's my motto.

Thanks to Paul for sharing his insights with us about how he fights anxiety and depression. Would love to hear more.

Sandra.

[Starwolf]

Thanks Paul for raising a very relevant question.

I think there is an important nuance (but only a fine line) between distraction and escapism. Distraction has an immediate, temporary effect. If mindfulness leads to a better understanding of how to manage mental conditions long-term (better self-knowledge through emotion-free observation) then it achieves a greater purpose.

If it is only used as distraction, we must be careful that it doesn't become addictive...a way not to confront personal reality but to escape it whenever it is too uncomfortable. As distraction we'd rather focus on external things/activities. It is a balm that temporarily soothes pain but doesn't repair its cause.

Mindfulness applied to the mind (our inner world) yields different results. Distraction no longer comes into it. But it can also be a mine field. As mentioned before, it is easier to practice at first on the external world and activities...until we get the emotion-free approach. Otherwise, introspection could easily turn emotional and have opposite results to those we're after.

The principle is simple. Its application...a lot of hard, persistent work.

It is a complex task. Mindfulness applied to the external world can also give us better understanding of it and our reactions to it (self-awareness). Baby steps -as usual- is the way to go. Figuring how far we want to take it and what approach suits us best will come along the way.

I always had a terrier's mentality. For example, I was never satisfied with the answer to any one question because I found it only led to more questions. So I keep digging. With retrospect I realize how infuriating I must have been for those around who preferred to stay put in their comfort zone. Luckily, I didn't end up buried deep down my own excavations but eventually found the way through my emotional rubble...and out. Going from mindfulness applied to external things to the mind watching itself was a logical progression. Would I say it is the way to go because it worked for me ? Hell no...

All I can suggest is give it a go, practice as distraction first with whatever you feel comfortable with, slowly extent beyond your comfort zone and figure as you go how far you want to take it.

[kanga_brumby]

Hi all Paul
what a bonza idea for a room, you’re a legend. Mindfulness can mean so much too so many people in so many different ways. On several occasions I remember going into the city and passing an aboriginal person. Who was homeless, he would always be seated in the same area. Everyone would pass him and just ignore him. I would pass whilst wearing a hat I would usually wear as a cricket umpire. I would raise my hand lifting my hat to him as a mark of respect to him. As a person and a indigenous person. Because I was trying to be mindful of past
injustices to his people. Plus to let him know he was respected by at least one other human.

Kanga

[blondguy]

Hi Sandra..

I understand what you are saying about the world as you mentioned..."We tend to justify the most horrendous practices. Terrorism is one example that comes to mind. It is based on religion being a source of political power"

I think that many people are genuinely upset/concerned about whats happening in the world and are not ignoring it. I think as you do every day about it and there is little we can do about it except to be 'aware' about whats happening. My health is strong (I think!) and refuse to let extremist radical humans with false beliefs change my mindset to heal and enjoy the beauty of the way of life as we know it. I hear you though Sandra...It hurts...

Anxiety & Depression...no worries hsp;

• Fighting anxiety/depression just doesnt work....it only exacerbates the symptoms/feelings
• Genuine & calm acceptance of the symptoms (takes a lot of practice) will make anxiety a bad memory
• Avoiding overly negative/toxic people (if possible) is crucial to rebuilding a healthy mindest
• If prescribed the right meds do provide us with a platform on which we can more effectively with therapy
• The more frequent the counseling the less anxiety & depression we have on our shoulders

Great post and thankyou for being a part of Beyond Blue and what we are trying to achieve 🙂

Kindest. Paul

[blondguy]

Hi Star and thankyou for hanging in here and explaining Mindfulness especially with the distraction vs mindfulness question.

You mentioned "practice as distraction first with whatever you feel comfortable with,
slowly extent beyond your comfort zone and figure as you go how far you want to take it"

Ive been trying to get beyond my 'comfort zone' since I was walking my alaskan malamute in 1996 and I didnt really know how stressed/anxious I was until I started to hyperventilate about 40 meters from home. I was scared to death and have never walked around the block before. I just walk in straight lines everywhere now which I am proud to have achieved.

Exposure therapy is not an option for me. I have walked every day since with different rescue dogs but I have no interest in walking around the whole block as I am scared to get to the 'point of no return'....thus the walking in straight lines everywhere to achieve the same result. I am happy to live with this now though.

I actually thought I was doing well with my mindfulness to have done as well as I have to date however I am still learning a lot from what you post.

(the hyperventilation/anxiety attack came just after my years in the family court just fyi)

I have had therapy for years to 'ground myself' which I have just got a handle on...

Really appreciate your expertise on this Star.

Paul

[highlysensitivepersonhsp]

Dear Paul, I realised after I posted that most people would think that I didn't acknowledge the war on terror. When I said we tend to justify the most horrendous practices (such as terrorism), I did not make it clear that the we I was referring to was many in our Muslim community. I was trying to be inclusive of them rather than adopt an us versus them mentality. I am not Muslim but I do believe they are my brothers and sisters under God.

I totally accept that you wanted to set the record straight and assert that you and many others do not support terrorism. My apologies for the confusion and for hurting you.

I also totally accept BBs mission and support the forum. The idea I was trying to convey is that our way of life is not healthy but that there are many people trying to change that. I don't want to appear as though I have my head in the sand. Just looking for like minded individuals who have given time and effort to critically examine our way of life.

I like to think of myself as a realist. I see both the positives and the negatives. But I also have a good deal of idealism in me and would love to see a much better world for future generations. I accept that there are many people who feel the same way. But it does mean that we have to critically examine things and speak about the negatives. That may be anxiety producing for many. Perhaps this forum is not the place for that considering our reasons for being here.

Thanks for helping me to be more sensitive about the issue.

Kind regards,

Sandra

[Doolhof]

Hi Sandra,

I'm wondering if you have your own thread on this forum? I'm sure there are others here who would like to engage with you about how this world is right now. Maybe you could start up a thread and people can join in your thoughts there.

I would be interested to know more of your thoughts and feelings about what is happening all around us. It is easy for me some days to be like an ostrich and just hide my head in the sand and think everything will go away.

Hopefully you will start up a thread, I will look out for it.

Being very sensitive does make people more open and maybe willing to see what is happening around them.

Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Visualisation, all of those techniques do help us to become the people we desire to be. We can make choices as to how we react to outside influences, I feel at times we need super human strength to do so if we start taking on all the injustices of this world.

Cheers for now from Dools.

[highlysensitivepersonhsp]

Hi Dools.

Thanks for your support and encouragement. It seems I have found a kindred spirit in you. That feels very nice. But I must be mindful of the many who are battling with their illnesses.

If you examine the forum categories, you will see that there is no place for the kind of essaying that you and I propose. This is simply not the place for it and it would be inappropriate and even counter productive to the recovery of our readers.

Examining the reasons why we are the way we are sounds like condemnation that might be too much for those who are trying to get on top of their condition. I would rather not exacerbate the many aspects of negativity they currently perceive in their lives.

I hope you understand where I'm coming from. Care. Concern. Wisdom.

Sandra.

[blondguy]

Hi Kanga

Welcome and thanks for the great post too. To lift your hat while passing the homeless aboriginal person is a genuine and heartfelt gesture of you being mindful of what they have had to go through...Nice1 Kanga. Paul

Hi HSP...no apologies necessary at all! You embrace all people as you mentioned and absolutely the muslim community are our brothers and sisters.

Your contributions on mindfulness and your experience are valued here.

Keep that Care Concern & Wisdom coming Sandra

Great stuff 🙂

my kindest thoughts

Paul