Mindfulness Series, Getting Started

 

This beautiful photo by dan at freedigitalphotos.net

I’m sitting in my parked Jetta watching mist hit the windshield.  A droplet forms at the top of the window.  Ever so slightly, it begins to move slowly downward, absorbing the other tiny beads of water in its way and leaving a clear vertical path behind.  Drip, drip, drop.

Mindfulness begins with observing, like a scientist, except without the analysis.  We can slow down and notice, paying attention to what is happening around us or in us.  We can be open, watch cars go by, listen to crickets in the distance, and feel our body against the chair, or simply experience our breath move in and out.   Our bodies make the perfect anchor for the present moment and many people use their breath as the focus of their attention for their mindfulness practice.

    

So we start with observing in the present moment.  Then whatever shows up around us or in us is what shows up.  We just let it be.  Mindfulness is a time to practice "not judging".  We usually judge and evaluate all day long but during mindfulness we want to create something different on purpose.  When we realize we have made a judgment, and we will, we can label it a judgment and move on, no big deal.  Our brains are made for mental activity and it is not going to stop just because we decide to pay attention differently. 

  We are learning to work with our mental activity not against it.

This is a foundation, a starting point for something bigger.  I would encourage you to try it on your own and see what happens.  Guided exercises are helpful.  Ronald Siegel has written a book, The Mindfulness Solution, and generously offers free audio downloads on his website as does the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center.  Click through the links to explore these resources further.

Thanks for reading!  Warm Blessings.