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

[PhoebeWings]

To me, this is a very ‘mindful’ piece of writing. It’s very comforting to me.

Hope others find a little solace too from the words.

Mary Oliver - Wild Geese

FAS




You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

[quirkywords]

Phoebewings thanks so much for sharing that peaceful poem.

[Ggrand]

Hello Everyone..🤗..

Phoebewings, I also would like to thank you for sharing the poem...I enjoyed reading it...

I am a little confused....Is being mindful the same as mindfulness?.....

We can be mindful when we do just about anything, washing up, sweeping the floor, cleaning out the cupboards.. by thinking and watching what we’re doing when we are doing it...I think by being mindful while doing these things we are in the here and now...

On a different note...to me mindfulness is about calming our soul, mind and body..sitting outside and being in tune with nature, listening to the wildlife, feeling the weather, seeing the trees blowing in the wind...or sitting/laying down with some soft music on and watching the flickering flames of some candles, while taking in their gentle scent..

Are they basically the same....or completely different?

Love and hugs..

Grandy..

[PhoebeWings]

Hallo Ggrand,

Good to hear you enjoy Mary Oliver’s poem. I read it a lot!

Gosh, good questions re mindful and mindfulness.

I haven’t the answers.

But it seems to me, whether we’re doing sweeping or something domestic and mundane ( yet with slow considered pleasure) or reading something comforting, taking time to enjoy creating or appreciating a created thing - it can have the affect of making us feel really alive. Second by second.

Anxiety, depression, panic - all these things deaden our awareness of being the very alive creatures that we are.

Believe me, if I’m writing this - I’m helping myself to remember these are truths. I’m self counselling 😎😉I mentioned earlier I’m in a really good place this month, last month and the month before....awful.

Isn’t it sad how we get overcome with feelings and thoughts that detract from a life that can have a very simple richness, every day.

[Guest_1643]

hi Phoebe and Tayla and Paul and Pawprints- thanks for sharing your ideas on mindfullness. your responses are very thoughtful. Some great responses. Thanks for opening up this idea of mindfulness. Tayla I did not know it was called grounding, that's very interesting. I have heard about the concept of going for a mindful walk, but it sounds similar to me as going for a walk as an artist or writer, where you take in all the sights and then record them after.

[blondguy]

Hi everyone and thankyou for the super helpful contributions too!

Hey Gambit...no worries at all and thankyou for your kind support! You mentioned "When I'm doing photography im always thinking about the various things to try and get the best shot" I hear you there Gambit...I have a Nikon P900 and enjoy 'focusing' on the 'now' when using it...pardon the pun!

Hey PhoebeWings.....Your posts (and Mary Olivers' poem) are wonderful and thankyou! I am happy that you find the bold font helpful with member names...I stole the concept off a member 4 years ago when I started here as its easier for members to quickly notice a reply to their contribution as thread can roll over quickly

Hey Grandy......always a bonus to read your heartfelt posts and thankyou! When I wrote this thread topic I struggled with 'Mindful' and 'Mindfulness' as I had different therapy back in the prehistoric 1980's. I still find the term itself confusing...I understand it doesnt stand for a 'busy mind'...I was counselled not to have a 'full mind' for years....Just for myself I grow weary of seeing the question 'Have you tried Mindfulness?'....

Hey Sleepy21....thankyou for your very kind post and you are spot on when you mentioned the great responses above! Being 'grounded' in the moment as you and Tayla mentioned is the same as we are only focused on our immediate surroundings and appreciating the 'now'

my kindest always

Paul

[Sallyiskind]

hi there

for me mindfulness is about doing one thing at a time and paying attention to that one thing. for example cooking dinner, only being concerned about chopping the vegetables, letting nothing else in your mind, just being careful with the knife, watching what you are doing, consider the 5 senses, chopping onions, you can smell the onions, feel onions, see onions, hear the knife slicing and hitting the board, and pretty soon you'll be able to taste the onions.

[quirkywords]

Sally,

Welcome to the forum. Yhanks for usin your first post to joint the conversation.

Today life is full of distractions, so focusing on one thing at a fime becomes a challenge.

quirky

[Ggrand]

Hello everyone..🤗..

I like your description of what mindfulness is to you...Thank you so much..

My problem is that once I start doing things I want it finished.. my thoughts are racing ahead, wishing I was finished so I can find something else to do...

I think I’ve been mixing up what I thought was mindfulness with grounding, meditation or something else..silly me..

As the saying goes..we are never to old to learn...and I’m still learning...

Take care everyone...

Love to you all and some caring hugs..💜🤗..

Grandy..

[Moonstruck]

Sallyiskind has just outlined precisely what mindfulness is. So there's no need for anyone to wonder any longer. Yes, it may prove difficult for some...which is why I guess the phrase "practise" mindfulness is used. You will know when you are doing it I assure you......thank you Sallyiskind for putting it so clearly.....