mindfulness

[pinkstarsarefalling]

Hello,

If you practice mindfulness, can you explain what you actually do, think about etc?

I know I need to do it, it's just where to start. Not found apps very helpful. But maybe I'm mindful adverse!

Thanks

In a nutshell it is giving whatever you are doing your full attention. So, if you are washing up you are fully focussed on the washing up - the light on the bubbles, the feel of the water. If you go for a walk you are focussed on the walk - your feet on the ground, the air moving on your skin. The idea is that you are fully engaged in the moment rather than doing something while thinking about a dozen other things.

I use it for helping with my crippling anxiety, and it really does work. If i have that knot of fear i put my focus there rather than ignoring it or wishing it would go away. I pay attention to the outer sensations and then work to the centre of the feeling, not trying to do anything, but just acknowledging the feelings. The process helps make the sensations start to dissipate.

I strongly recommend this book - you really do have to work at it but once you've learnt the skills you can apply it as often as you can remember to. That is the hardest skill to learn - remembering to use it! The other useful thing i've taken from it is the mantra that thoughts are not facts - it really helps to remember that thinking or feeling something doesn't make it the truth.

Thank you that is really helpful.

I think I keep reading its meditation but I know from experience that although that really helps it's not permanent for me.

I am very able to do this naturally - eg I will get very absorbed watching a beetle or looking at my garden.

So need to apply it to other things.

I think the issue is I am used to having to multitask.

And then things slip as I'm trying to problem solve - anxiety or worry does have a purpose, to problem solve, but it goes wrong.

Nothing wrong with problem solving, or thinking about the past, planning for the future etc. What matters with mindfulness is that planning, reminiscing etc is what you are actively doing, rather than your thoughts doing one thing while the rest of you is absent-mindedly doing something else.

I no longer see multi-tasking as a good thing, though of course we all have to do it sometimes. When i do i make sure i have some time after to regroup so it doesn't become the norm again.

While you are learning mindfulness then active meditation is part of the process, and it is really helpful to incorporate even a few minutes of sitting into each day in the long term. It is though more like living in a meditative way, rather than thinking of it being meditation as in something you sit down to do.

Is there a particular reason you are wanting to try mindfulness?