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]

Hey Everybody..... I hope that everyone is doing reasonably okay 🙂

CMF....you are seriously doing well with what our coach "MarkJT" has spent so much time clarifying where mindfulness is concerned. Taking the time to step back and lose ourselves in the moment is hard but you really have a strong understanding of the true meaning of mindfulness. I am trying the best I can to learn off MarkJT and being a Capricorn I will continue making a concerted effort to do the same 🙂

MarkJT....I am the same as yourself with this being 'me' time and finding it rewarding being on the forums and helping out. I think that I am having difficulty with 'brain fog' at the moment.....thus my temporary loss of traction/concentration. I guess I am struggling at the moment

There are so many wonderful people on the forums that have their own issues and yet continue to strive to have some calm in their lives by posting. This is what makes the BB Forums a super caring place to be.

Thankyou so much 🙂

If you are new and reading this thread and wish to post your thoughts, you are more than welcome to do so 🙂

My Kindest thoughts as always

Paul

[MarkJT]

Paul, yep the good old "brain fog". Isn't that just glorious to have!!...not.

When I am fogged up, I rarely try any other mindfulness other than putting the good headphones on and pumping the music. That is the easiest for me to do so when i am cooked on concentration, music is the choice.

Mark.

[blondguy]

Hey MarkJT and New Posters Too!! 🙂

Thanks Mark for saying what you do when the mindfulness sometimes loses its traction.

It is so hard to deal with a brain that wants to go in the opposite direction.....Its hard work for sure.

I love what you mentioned about music. I have been using music as a tool to divert my thinking back into a good place since 1983 when the anxiety started.

I just purchased a Pioneer 'D' Class amplifier with some Dali speakers.....Im in heaven 🙂

Please excuse the temporary 'Secret Service Homer' profile pic that I have put up for the weekend. Its time the stern endangered bald headed eagle had a rest for a couple of days!

Thanks Mark for your unswerving positive input as always

Paul

[MarkJT]

Paul, love the new avatar - Homer J Simpson, one of the best characters ever!!

Yeh important to remember that sometimes, mindfulness is easy to slip into but equally it is sometimes really hard to do so always good to have the back up plan on what to do if the brain is just not wanting to concentrate.

Awesome with the speakers. We have an older surround sound system but starting to hunt down a new one. It is all about the sound!!

Mark

[CMF]

This is probably not mindfulness but thought I'd share anyway. Although I find water calming, I am scared of deep water, big waves and the sea. The movie 'The Perfect Storm' makes my stomach turn. I love the phrase 'riding the wave of anxiety' because as we know once the wave peaks and breaks the water returns to calmness, rolls into shore and subsides. My anxiety is like a wave 🌊, up and down, approaching, reaching a peak, engulfing, settling and then subsiding. I picture myself on a surfboard in the water, the wave approaches and lift me, at the top of the wave, the wave overcomes me, I'm engulfed, then it rolls over me, I can breathe and I'm free again as I feel it subside and roll off ahead of me, leaving me in peace until the next one. It reminds me that the wave does break, it loses it's momentum and power, that calmness can return. Funny how the water, so calming and soothing, can also be so scary.

[quirkywords]

CMF

that was beautifully written. I was there too, with the waves up and down. I find the water calming not scary . It was peaceful to read your words and imagine the warm water lapping at me feet and the slowly covering me.

Quirky

[CMF]

Thx Quirky,

it just those really big engulfing waves that scare me. They are so powerful and I have no control. Your profile pic is so soothing.

hope you are doing ok, will try and catch up on your thread.

cmf x

[MarkJT]

CMF, I think you are underestimating your abilities.

Now some person who has researched mindfulness to the maximum may disagree with me but I don't care because I have taken mindfulness as meaning basically easing the pain on your brain by living in the moment and taking the thoughts away.

If riding the wave and thinking of water and how calming it is settles you when you are in the midst of a storm, then that to me is mindfulness.

Mark

[CMF]

Thx Mark

i overthink and underestimate 😁

[blondguy]

Thanks Mark 🙂 I think the Homer Simpson avatar is when he was being a body guard to Mayor Quimby...lol

CMF....That was well written. If I ever have nightmares is about deep turbulent water as I have always found it scary too. I love the calmness of water whether its the surf or freshwater but being near any deep water does give me the heebie geebies

I really think that you have an excellent understanding of mindfulness though. Nice1 cmf.

Paul