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

[Flick_SnotGrass]

Hey blondguy,

Behaviorceuticals in a 'nutshell'.

Hmm, OK.

No one really knows how Behaviorceuticals work but they do work for lots of people.

The 'behaviour' bit usually means 'doing a routine physical task', usually with your hands.

Knitting, washing up, doing laundry, tidying up, mowing the lawn...things you don't have to think about but involve some physical activity.

These tasks engage your 'motor cortex', the part of your brain that moves you.

No one knows quite 'why' but these simple 'motor tasks' often produce a calm and soothing sensation.

Hence, 'Behavior ceuticals'.

Hope this helps,

Flick

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone...New posters and readers are more than welcome to post too!

Hi Elizabeth and thankyou for your helpful and informative post 🙂 You mentioned "it (mindfulness) engages the mind so negative thoughts are crowded out or acknowledged & let go"and have provided excellent examples.

Hey Flick....Thankyou too for your great post as you have a deep understanding of mindfulness like Elizabeth does. Can I ask what you would do if you had anxiety if you walked too far away from your 'safe place' whether its your car or your house? (Agoraphobia) The term is often misunderstood as people with anxiety that severe that they cant leave their front door which isnt correct...Any information is appreciated 🙂

It is very hard to be distracted in the 'open' when we are suffering from generalised anxiety disorder that spikes badly in open spaces

My best always

Paul

[Flick_SnotGrass]

Hey blondguy,

Thanks for your kind words, yes, I am uber passionate about MH. It's the most important topic we must all get cleverer about as a society ~ someone once said 'For what profit a man if he gains the world and loses his mind?'... nothing.

blondguy you wrote: "Hey Flick.... Can I ask what you would do if you had anxiety if you walked too far away from your 'safe place' whether its your car or your house? (Agoraphobia) The term is often misunderstood as people with anxiety that severe that they cant leave their front door which isnt correct...Any information is appreciated 🙂"

OK, great question.

True confessions here blondguy, I am a very lazy fellow and if I can find a lazy way to feel better, that doesn't involve too much work, then I'm in.

Six years ago, I discovered cranial electro stimulators ~ external Brain Tuners. Clever little black boxes [designed and built by neuroscientists] that run off 9volt batteries and that can sooth and calm your brain quickly.

You just attach the Brain Tuner to your ear lobes, turn it on, set it and forget and it works it's magic all on its own. Perfect for a lazy fellow.

So to your question "It is very hard to be distracted in the 'open' when we are suffering from generalised anxiety disorder that spikes badly in open spaces", agreed. Once that panic attack pattern gets going it quickly gets beyond conscious control, you need a tool to help you get back on track.

If I were you I'd look into one of the latest Brain Tuners and start to learn how to use it.

Happy to offer you more info if you like.

Best as always,

Flick

[Moonstruck]

Paul...does this qualify as mindfulness?

Went for a walk to beachfront yesterday (as I have a million times before)....sitting at a table and chairs reading...just sat and looked around at one stage..this is what I saw....green green well cared for grassy area....blue ocean coming onto little inlet with golden sand, surrounded by black protective rocks, palm trees swaying, blue sky, white fluffy clouds drifting past, some people (not crowded) sitting quietly chatting, some alone eating their lunch..in the distance some children's gentle laughter. There was no discord whatsoever....was aware that moment in time and place contained no negative aspects at all, no loud noise, just peace. It was as near a perfect scene as one could get.......was I practising mindfulness?

[Elizabeth CP]

My psychologist described mindfulness as being fully present in the moment ie being really focused on what you are doing or your surroundings rather than what is going to happen later or in the past. By this definition your experience was a form of mindfulness and demonstrated how effective it can be in helping us enjoy life & move out of the negative thought patterns some of us have.

Glad you had such a lovely experience..

[CMF]

Oh Moon,

What a beautiful moment. I do believe you were being mindful. Remember how that felt,perhaps you can draw on that experience in the future.

cmf x

[Flick_SnotGrass]

Hey Moonstruck you ask "was I practising mindfulness?" yes. Definitely.

Next step is to practice stringing more of those moments together.

It's fun. It does take Practice.

Warmly,

FS

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone 🙂 (new posters/readers are always more than welcome to post too!)

Thankyou Flick for helping out with your post re Brain Tuners...I have no issue if its new or old technology I will give anything a try. Do you know of anyone that has made a marked improvement? The more info the better 🙂

Hi Moon! Always a treat to see you....Absolutely its a sign of mindfulness and good on you for having the ability to 'smell the roses' (being involved in the now) without continual focus on any nagging negatives. Excellent x

Hey Elizabeth......It great to have your psychologists' point of view on mindfulness and thankyou! Your counselor mentioned mindfulness as 'being fully present in the moment ie being really focused on what you are doing or your surroundings rather than what is going to happen later or in the past' Thankyou for helping me out on this one as you are aware I am struggling with mindfulness where my mild agoraphobia is concerned 🙂

Hi CMF....appreciate you helping out as always and I am more than certain that you will be more than a success in your new position too 🙂 x

Hugs

Paul

[demonblaster]

Hi Pauly 😁 and all

Have a few posts to catch up but will sometime

I had an amazing experience very recently in extreme mental and physical pain, ended up doing an allniter with no choice because of physical pain, anyway I thought of you Paul and this thread because out of the Blue I had a mindful few moments exactly like Elizabeth said about .."being fully present in the moment ie being really focused on what you are doing or your surroundings" it just happened and felt terrific I even felt aware of not being impulsive, so it was some strong light in extreme hard time.

It was almost an outta body experience cause I absolutely wasn't consciously thinking about anything except trying to remain calm and not stress with both intense pain although thanks to recently re reading some of Wolfys thread (Smallwolf) which helped me get through some powerful anxiety attacks (some of REBT, rational emotive breathing therapy) which calmed me and looking at a great spread of stars but whatever reason it happened it was mind blowing

Maybe the calmness allowed or the med but it didn't do much for pain just had to endure it but I definately want that again. So practice yes. Sometimes the universe or somewhere out of our realms of reality things happen.It was incredible

Thank you as always for your support to so many and being a great host and bloke ☺

Thank you too for everyones great input. Its interesting and makes a lot of sense

Peace wished for everyone 🕊

[blondguy]

Hey DB

Its always a bonus to have you on the forums and thankyou for being here too!

Demonblaster mentioned "I had a mindful few moments exactly like Elizabeth said about ..being fully present in the moment ie being really focused on what you are doing or your surroundings"

Great stuff DB and yes...Elizabeth is spot on with her post. It can take time and practise but well worth the determination and effort to change our thought processes 🙂

Hugs

Pauly 🙂