Mindfulness is defined as “paying attention.” But that is not exactly what a mindfulness practice is. Mindfulness is awareness by paying attention in a particular manner, on purpose, in the present moment without other thoughts like judgement, likes and dislikes.
So, what is being in the present moment, or in the now moment? That means we are experiencing this moment without comparison to any experience, nor expectations for future moments. This is not so easy. We say I am studying and reading this material, I am in the present moment. But whatever we are reading or studying, we begin to compare to things that we already know. So, what we are studying is seen through the lens of previous knowledge and might not be what is intended to be conveyed. Our mind is very quick. While studying we may also judge the material or allow our mind to go to memories. Other things that affect the moment without our knowledge are our mood, how the body feels (happy/sad), our likes and dislikes, our tensions, our emotional needs, cultural norms, and so on. Our thoughts are not really in the moment.
Many of the activities of our daily lives are done mindlessly or on autopilot. During that time the mind falls into previous thought patterns of the past or rehearsing the future and reinforcing those neuropathways without conscious attention. The mind never stops even though you might not be aware of it. Whatever pathways we have crated it will flow into those. The more times it travels the same pathway, the deeper the groove, or more pronounced the neuropathways. The mind waves loop until forcefully distracted. Autopilot reinforces previous impressions. If we practice mindfulness we will not flow into previous impressions and the mind does not go into autopilot.
When we love something, or when we are creative, we begin to use the mind constantly in that endeavor. The mind gravitates to what it loves. The mind never stops. To prevent the mind to go into old grooves, we need to be engaged in creative endeavors.
Let us take a moment and become aware of our mind and what it is doing, what it is thinking, without trying to create a thought. Just watch. No judgement, no thought, just watch…………. This is where we discover how much we criticize and judge ourselves or worry. If we understand that every thought even if it is just mental chatter, creates a vibration which requires a reaction and attracts similar vibrations we will begin to monitor our thoughts. Similar vibrations keep the mind in a constant loop of the same thought pattern.
Mindfulness requires that we are aware of mindfulness. We are aware that we are in the present moment, we are aware of all the influences that color the present moment, as discussed above. We have about 50,000 thoughts a day most of it is mental chatter. When we wake up in the morning, we go to the bathroom and the mind will mumble away, going on and on. That is the nature of the mind. Since the mind must think, we need to be aware of it and direct its thinking. Otherwise, it goes into preexisting neuro pathways of chatter. Instead of being lost in chatter, imagine going to the bathroom and washing the face while noticing the water touching the skin, brushing the teeth with a mindful focus on each tooth etc. This will begin the day with more calmness and clarity.
Watching the mind and becoming aware of the chatter is part of mindfulness. If we are aware of the thoughts then we begin to discern which thoughts are important, and which are chatter, which are positive and which disturb our peace of mind. Do not judge the chatter, it is normal, just become aware. Awareness is the key to finding calm and peace in the mind. Awareness is necessary in daily life. We cannot see our reptiles, as St. Theresa of Avila calls them, unless we practice awareness or mindfulness.
John Kabat-Zinn lists qualities that are necessary for mindfulness, he calls them “attitudinal foundations of mindfulness”. They are acceptance, nonjudging, non-striving, letting go/letting be, patience, trust, beginners mind, and gratitude. Mindfulness requires us to see what we usually do not see. To feel what we usually do not feel. It requires a mind that wishes to explore the unknown. In the ordinary we can find the extraordinary. How is my footstep different now that I am walking on the grass rather than cement?
When we practice mindfulness, we are being fully present in the moment, without the need to change it. Without an agenda. If we are practicing mindfulness to feel better and calmer, that is an agenda. Let go and let it happen, observe. This practice allows us to look at the present situation and understanding that this is the way it is right now. Any kind of judgement and aversion just creates tension and stress. We cannot force change. First, we must accept and then we need to examine how to change a situation. This will create a mindset that can make changes without fighting against the situation through a struggle and eventually lead to peace of mind.
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
