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

[CMF]

Thanks Paul

Have a great day!

[MarkJT]

CMF, you are not the lone ranger there. I do that constantly but are working on getting it sorted out.

Sometimes i can catch myself and correct it but other times I miss it.

Mark.

[demonblaster]

Hiyaz Blond & all

Blond I've always been planning to come back here so TADAaaa

I'm very keen to learn this & previously read a few posts but think with memory needing a good smacking I'll have to do so again.

Ok from Blonds OP (original post)

"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"

So how do we take emotion and judgement out. I guess just practise, the thoughts happen but move onto task at hand maybe.

A clinical Pysch said the brain HAS to have the thoughts they've learnt. Over time I've managed to sometimes be able to push or block but yeah blocking no good apparently, maybe cause they build up by holding them in creating stress and keep invading until acknowledged. May be the reason they keep coming, prompting us to come to terms with. Saw a share on facebook (fb) once saying that & there's possibly something in it.

As we know the brain's a VERY powerful and only slightly understood at this stage yet look what the brainies have worked out so far, sooooo complex. Fascinating. (Yip, just did a Spock 🙂

Cyaz hope it's a good day

[blondguy]

Hey Demonblaster and thanks heaps for posting here too 🙂

I originally wrote this thread as I am only one of many that dont really understand what mindfulness really meant. I thought it was distraction which I know is an effective yet temporary fix ( distraction is what I was taught my by therapists in the '80's and 90's) Mindfulness lets us find a point of focus in a more relaxed way than seeking a short term distraction. (Please correct me on that one Mark if required no worries)

MarkJT has spent mega time on this thread being a Mindfulness Coach. As per his up to date knowledge/understanding on the subject (Thankyou MJT)

I do know that 'fighting' anxiety doesnt work as it only exacerbates the problem and produces more adrenaline which is counterproductive. I was taught to use 'genuine and calm acceptance' with anxiety/depressive symptoms as anxiety cannot exist in a mind that truly accepts and even welcome these feelings. The anxiety requires fear to exist....once 'genuine acceptance' of the anxious feelings is practiced then the anxiety is rendered powerless.

I know its sounds like mega hard work and it is. It takes frequent counseling as well as a stack of determination and time as well.

Mindfulness provides us with a buffer zone so we can stay in the moment with mush less interference from negative self talk or catastrophising of what 'might' happen..

You are more than welcome here Mr Spock...(DB)....You have a huge heart and so much to offer 🙂

My kind thoughts

Paul

[demonblaster]

Hey Blond and all 🙂

Lol, wait for it

Thanks for that, I started and will at times be going through the thread as with hopefully others too.

Lovely thanks for your kind words, not the only one with a big heart you definately included and what a host on threads, learning from you too as am with lot of people here.

Ok....flicks open thingamajig ....tap ....tap.... so ...."beam me up Scotty" :D.
Spock out lol

WILL cya later
Go easy

[blondguy]

ahhh copy that Mr Sulu.....we are on impulse power...steady as she goes...

Paul 😉

[Ggrand]

Hi Blondguy.

I have read the word mindfulness quite a lot over the last 2 months.

Just another really bad day and now night. Constantly crying. So tonight I've been searching the threads for some comfort. encouragement not sure what I was looking for but stumbled upon your thread blondguy.

I've been reading your thread with fascination and I'm intrigued..

Could this work for me? I don't know I think my mind is constantly in overdrive chattering away to me and making my life unbearable atm.

I tried mindspot once but that didn't work.. I tried to concerntrate on an object to put me in the moment but I can only seem to close of the chatter for a few seconds then poof it's all back again.

I read that it takes practice for it to be effective.

Please what is practice and how do you practice? ( or did I read then forgot that bit).

Thank you for such a very intriguing thread.

Karen

[MarkJT]

Demonblaster: the positivity oozing out of you is so infectious! So bloody awesome but i cannot Trekky quote as am more of a Star Wars type of guy!

Karen: Practice, practice, practice. That is the best advice i can give you. The next time you try mindfulness and your brain starts the chatter again, I want you to be very gentle on yourself, I want you to very gently acknowledge that you have lost concentration and gently bring your concentration back into focus.

If you get annoyed that you cannot concentrate, you will not concentrate. It is perfectly normal for your brain to alter thoughts and drift off and that is okay. The key is to remain calm about that and be kind to yourself and re-focus.

Download the "Smiling Mind" app and start with that. I used that one heaps when i was learning and although I am no master, I can do a lot of other things now to calm myself down.

I am a firm believer that mindfulness is a life skill, not just for those with a mental health condition but for everyone.

Mark.

[demonblaster]

lol Blond I tell ya if you were Captain Kirk in his day I'd be soooo in love with you, ohhhh yeah as a kid I was head over heals probs amongst 3/4's female population & male too. What a fine specimen 😄

Agree Ggrand (Grand) it's an awesome thread, I too am going to go through from beginning which will refresh what I have in past read & learn more esp from MarkJT that blonde said has had huge input.

Btw what you said about concentrating on something only working for few secs, that's good that it is working so if you keep practicing it can be a temporary distraction, not necessarily going to fix probs but take the moments away for a mind rest.

The amazing survivor and absolute gem of a person with so much wisdom (& others here too, truth) also said recently that's helped me untold already is to keep looking around at anything & everything without too much thought, just observing, being in the now. Hope helps 🙂

gtg (got to go)

laters all

Hope it's bearable and getting better

[blondguy]

Hi Karen, thankyou so much for your super kind post above. Im sorry that you have been going through such a dark phase. The frequent mental chatter and overthinking are classic signs of a tired mind. I understand what you are going through as I have been through the same on and off for 30 years.....and its an awful place to be in.

You are spot on, it takes practice determination and time. Im still learning Mindfulness and will get there one of these days. Sometimes we are that mentally fatigued that it can be hard to do. In times of severe anxiety/depression I used to find an inspirational movie (or a boring one) and use that as a tool to find some peace from my over active thought process....My psychologist brought up the idea and it worked....The more severe the anxiety the more a boring movie will reduce the anxiety as your mind will be resting.

Inspirational movies (or book) are great for depression as this gives our brain a boost and the depression (overthinking) will be reduced when are focus is on something that is brain friendly 🙂

Thanks MarkJT and DB for the kind & positive TLC

Thanks Karen for being a part of the forum family!

My kind thoughts

Paul