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

[smallwolf]

doing a little study and thought I would share in case it helps someone...

1. informal practices can be used any time of day - while showering. brushing teeth or going to work.
   helps in the development of attention, empathy and self-awareness
2. make time for mindfulness and make it a habit so that it becomes part of your daily routine.
3. work out a length of time that works for you. If you only have 5 or 10 minutes spare, this is better than doing none.
4. e gentle and persistent. Trying too hard can be counter-productive and lead to frustration.
5. Remember why you are doing it, and be kind to yourself in the process.

[blondguy]

Hi Tim

you provide sound counsel on this thread topic...You understand the thread topic (Mindfulness) so well. You are helping more people than you know...:-)

Why does 'Mindfulness' sound like a 'busy/overactive mind' to me? My counsellor never mentioned 'Mindfulness' back in the late 14th century...

I think I have been using mindfulness for years except it had a different 'label/tag' ....my counsellor used to call it 'gentle distraction' 35 years ago

Thankyou for the super helpful post Tim....I just copied and pasted it in my 'Coping Folder'

kindest thoughts always

Paul

[ecomama]

lol "back in the 14th century"... 😂😂

well way back around then too, my father diligently taught me how to pray, kneeled beside my bed every night... on and on... until I learnt 'The Lord's Prayer' - at 4yo I had NO IDEA what trespasses etc meant but I could say that prayer by heart.

The Serenity Prayer would have been EASIER to learn and a bit more relevant to Wellbeing over my lifetime!

"..... to accept the things I cannot change" and "the wisdom to know the difference"...

When my Counsellor brought the Mindfulness topic up to her Head Psych and asked her if SHE practised it, Head Psych said I'm a Christian, we've practiced Mindfulness for a long time.

And so it goes on with the Buddhist monk who taught me how to "still the mind" when washing dishes and GARDENING, not at the same time lol.

Mindfulness doesn't have to be a 10 minute compulsory action that we turn on a clip for, but it can be that too!

We can take what we've learnt about "quietening the mind" into all activities.

Now with Mindfulness being a work practice ALSO, I've found it very useful throughout Staff Meetings lol... I set my head to nod and zone out or zone out as the case may be.
I have a great excuse to use if I missed something lol.

The Dalai Lama likes to remind us not to take life so seriously as he laughs away joyfully... and seeing a beaming smiling Buddha can remind us of the daily practices to get to that place of joy and contentment.

Hope you all have a wonderful day
EM

[quirkywords]

Like the Dalai Lama I too like laughing and humour. I find if I can laugh at myself I can focus on the rhythm of my breath and cope with stresses.

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone and thankyou for the super valuable input too!

Hey EM.....I appreciate the quality support you provide here and across the forums

EM mentioned: 'We can take what we've learnt about "quietening the mind" into all activities' You also mentioned having a 'still mind'.....and thankyou for picking up when I had my counselling 😉

Hey Quirky....thankyou for the super helpful post when you mentioned ' I find if I can laugh at myself I can focus on the rhythm of my breath and cope with stresses'

Learning is a never ending process for me....yet I find it peculiar when 'some' health professionals incorrectly assume that their patients understand what mindfulness actually is

my kindest always

Paul

[quirkywords]

hello everyone

Paul , I agree that learning is a never ending process and a life long journey .

It I is a curve full of surprises.

I suppose if someone calls a concept mindfulness and they feel it is helping does it matter if another person says it is not.?
we approach concepts in our own unique ways.

thanks again Paul for your useful summaries.

[blondguy]

Hi Quirky and thankyou for the super kind post

I wouldn't suggest mindfulness to a person experiencing difficulty with their mental health as doing so would be proceeding from a false assumption (that the person understands MF)

Have a really good day Q.

[smallwolf]

@Paul - maybe I am getting old and not caring anymore (you will find out why shortly) but I was struck by you comment about people assuming a client knows what mindfulness is... The professional should (?) check whether the client understand the process and then is happy to proceed. As opposed to saying "we are going to X, Y and Z (mindfulness) activities and ..." The flip-side is that if the professional says something that I do not understand, I will ask them. This the not caring part... I don't care if I look stupid! (Part of me say.... ASK!... At the same time, I can see others would be afraid to ask.)

@Quirky - Is it mindfulness or not? Broadly speaking, there are two types of mindfulness - formal and informal. Formal practices require training or specialization. There are some/many that a counsellor could not do without additional or special training. Contrast this to informal activities like washing the dishes that require little training.

There is a book called "mindfulness for dummies" that might help to explain this better.

@Paul (again) - funny (not haha) you mention not suggesting mindfulness as I will point people to this thread in some of my replies. From a counselling perspective there are times when a mindfulness is not used and theses are referred to as "contraindications". Otherwise in suggesting to someone to use mindfulness in person is something I have only mentioned to persons I know quite well and then along the lines of "it worked for me" and THEN "perhaps have a chat about it with your ...."

As an aside - a person I know was uptight about something and visibly so. I suggested to them to take a deep breath. I couldn't say anymore, the person had the look of death in her eyes at me, and say "don't say that again". Later she explained why to me.

Our journeys are all unique and the same with our approach to ourselves and others .

Have probably confused you all with my rambling.

[blondguy]

Hey Tim

you have always had an innate gift where 'clarity' is concerned and thankyou (again) for helping so many readers (70%) and the 30% that choose to post

Its not about 'people' suggesting mindfulness to others...My comments have been directed at 'some health professionals' that mention 'have you tried mindfulness' when providing support/counsel

Tim mentioned 'The professional should (?) check whether the client understand the process and then is happy to proceed'...thanks for helping out and explaining it so well Tim!

Your posts (through experience) are always beneficial here and across the forums

Hey Quirky....thankyou always for your wonderful support! You mentioned "I suppose if someone calls a concept mindfulness and they feel it is helping does it matter if another person says it is not.?" Im sorry I didnt make my post as clear as I could have...oops! When we are going through a difficult period and our health professional asks us 'have you tried Mindfulness' it can be a silly question for the HP to ask especially if the person doesnt 'believe' in counselling or if we are in dark place

We do approach concepts in our own unique ways...Yet when our issues begin to have a negative impact on our day to day well being, sometimes our 'own unique ways' can be counterproductive to our health by exacerbating the original symptoms

my kind thoughts.....Paul

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone and thankyou for the super helpful contributions too!

Hey Tim.....I mentioned this a few days ago on the 15th....' I think I have been using mindfulness for years except it had a different 'label/tag' ....my counsellors used to call it 'gentle distraction' 35 years ago'

my brain hurts