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

[Moonstruck]

Oh Yes Paul....by saying "awareness" I mean definitely staying in the moment. I didn't mean "awareness" in the context of "being aware of something that could harm me, or being aware there are negative vibes around.".. no, not that kind of "awareness"

Yes I meant "being in the moment" and aware of just that. e.g. my last real experience of mindfulness (that I related here a few weeks ago) was the man playing with his dog on the beach while I stood some distance away watching him...

No doubt everyone "saw" them....but probably weren't "aware" of them and the beauty they exuded. I stood and gave them my FULL attention..i.e. mindfulness - for some minutes...some other day they could have just floated through my vision without my giving them my attention....but by doing so, it was beneficial to ME...the man and his dog would have no idea I was even there!

This conversation reminds me of a former friend/boyfriend in my late teens who was an avid "people watcher" He was probably an expert at "mindfulness" before the word was fashionable. He would see "beauty" in just little things, and watch for a while. No surprise that he became a writer with books published, so his "people watching and awareness" came in handy.

He's now an award winning screenplay writer of some famous, well-known TV mini series........his mindfulness really paid off doncha reckon?

[Ggrand]

Hello Paul...and everyone 🤗..

Yes I do find that awareness helps.....when my anxiety gets to much to handle I step out my front door, sit on my outside lounge and start being aware of the different sights and sounds of nature...the birds singing..the wind blowing through the trees..the leaves floating to the ground...the warm sun and cool breeze on my skin...the clouds floating peacefully across the sky....with a bird flying past every once in a while...Once I am aware of these..I become less anxious.. because my feelings are changing from the anxiety of everyday life to a much more calmer feeling....Takes a while at times but so very much worth it....

Grandy....

[quirkywords]

Hi everyone
I like awareness but ion terms of mindfulness , for me awareness ends up with me over thinking.

I know this is just me but with awareness I think of self awareness and trying to analyse every part of my behaviour.

I can see for some awareness is what people aim for, but for me it would have my mind too full and overburdened.

Quirky

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone and thankyou for being a part of the 'Mindfulness' discussion!

Hey Moon.....always a bonus to have you post anywhere on the forums and thankyou! After having chronic anxiety for a long time I find being 'aware' close to being over sensitized....(just for my own set of symptoms that is!)

Moon mentioned (in regard to watching the man with his dog on the beach) " I stood and gave them my FULL attention..i.e. mindfulness - for some minutes"....I do understand Moon...I think...so you were mindful and 'focused' on one matter and didnt let your thoughts stray...yes?

Hey Grandy....always great to read your helpful posts and thankyou! Like Moon mentioned above you find awareness helpful too and you have mentioned excellent examples too...

Grandy mentioned "Yes I do find that awareness helps.....when my anxiety gets to much to handle I step out my front door, sit on my outside lounge and start being aware of the different sights and sounds of nature"

Hey Quirky.....I also find 'awareness' akin to be 'stimulated' when I dont want to be during or after an anxiety attack. I get what Moon and Quirky are saying. I just have difficulty using 'awareness' as a substitute term for mindfulness.....

Maybe after 30+ years of counseling I have been taught how to use the power of 'distraction' as a coping mechanism as the term 'Mindfulness' didnt exist at that time.

you are amazing people for helping me and others understand mindfulness 🙂

Paul

[Moonstruck]

Paul....you have put my views on mindfulness perfectly. I give the "thing"...could be the man and his dog, tree blowing in the wind, flower petal, cloud formation, candle, whatever..my FULL attention, noticing everything about it..

I am so focussed on "it" there is no room for anything else, no anxious over thinking ...just the effortless noticing in full, the chosen object of the exercise.....to try to put it succinctly, if your thoughts stray...you are not practising mindfulness. (whereas in meditation, our thoughts stray constantly...that's normal and we get better at letting them just "be)...but I digress.

The most delicious experiences for me have been when Mindfulness "finds me" rather than having and planning the "goal" of practising mindfulness.

[quirkywords]

Moon,

I like how you say the best experiences are when mindfulness finds us.

I have many lizards living in my garden and if I say them I stop and watch and don't move so they wont scamper away. In my head I talk to them and wonder what their lives are like. I like losing myself in the laughter of a toddler and just have fun and be silly.

A truly delicious moment.

Quirky

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone! New members are always welcome to post their thoughts too 🙂

Hey Moon.....I am rapt that I have been doing the same as yourself....'Mindfulness' used to be called 'floating' or 'peaceful distraction' back in the 1980's! When Bananarama were huge! 😉 You rock Moon x

I have found it somewhat peculiar when some health professionals mention 'have you tried mindfulness' Its only my humble opinion that some people would relate 'mindfulness' to having a 'busy' mind when 30+ years of counseling says otherwise.......just my humble opinion/ observation

Hey Quirky...I really appreciate your post as it reflects the meaning of mindfulness....and yes the lizards and losing ourselves in the laughter of a toddler is precious 🙂

I hope everyone has the best weekend they can

Paul

[Moonstruck]

Hey BlondGuy...no it wouldn't be very helpful for a practitioner to just say "have you tried mindfulness?" and leave it at that....how silly. It's no good giving that advice without following it up by suggesting at least some books, tapes or recommending another "practitioner" or teacher or whatever to perhaps guide the person through just what it entails.....then the patient can work out if it's right for them!! (a "busy mind" is the opposite of mindfulness...(my humble opinion too).

I know I've gotten on my soapbox a bit about the subject....but it's just so damn peaceful and lovely when it happens I would like everyone to experience it......it only lasts for a tiny while but so beneficial to be "reminded" even occasionally....that yes, there are some beautiful things in this world....despite the ugliness, cruelty and destruction....focus on the beautiful.

Oh God you mentioned the 80s! Nuh...sorry the 80s were my horrible decade apart for a few, far too few, nice interludes....oh no, I loathed the 80s...and I had the big hair, shoulder pads and all...I didn't come "out the other side" of my very dark years until the 90s.......Bananarama???

[quirkywords]

Moon

I feel like I had a sheltered life because I had no big hair or should pads as I was pregnant or breastfeeding for most of the 1980s.

Were poeple mindful in the 80s?

i don’t think I have ever had a favourite decade a, still looking forward.

I wonder if there is an age that makes us better at mindfulness.

I am thinking I am too distracted.

I do have moments of concentrating in between being distracted.a

Quirky

[Moonstruck]

Dear Quirky....maybe mindfulness is not the ideal way for you....no big deal...use whatever works. (actually your experience with the lizards sounds pretty spot on to me. I don't know how long you watched them but what you described comes close to mindfulness in my opinion)

"were people mindful in the 80s?"....you've gotta be kidding...no it was awful...everything fast, big, flashy...in fact if you were breastfeeding in the 80s, you probably had mindfulness down to a "t"...the Queen of Mindfulness!

But Oh,....the late 60s...at least the clothes have come back in fashion from my hippie days...it's called "boho" now..what a laugh! Reminds me, I must get a CD of the original HAIR soundtrack (still have the vinyl)....