Why is Mindfulness Important?
Posted on February 05, 2017 by Catherine Oliphant, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Do you react to situations without realizing why? Do you feel, sometimes that life is happening to you? Mindfulness will change your experience.
What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is being fully conscious and “in the moment.” You’ve probably heard this term, mindfulness, a lot lately. It is gaining popularity. In yoga, mindfulness is at the forefront of what that discipline is about. When we are doing yoga, and we are in a pose, the most important thing to do in that moment is focus on what our body is communicating. In other words, being conscious of how all parts of your body are feeling. Is there any pain? What is the intensity? Do I need to back off of this stretch or modify it? Do I need to go deeper? Yoga is more than just stretching, it’s about learning to listen to your body and understand what it is saying. However, it takes practice.
Being conscious of what we are experiencing in the moment is like sitting in a hot tub. If you’ve ever sat in a hot tub, you know how relaxing it is. However, the temperature of the water can be too much when we first get it. After a minute, we calm down and it is luxurious. Every muscle and cell in my body seems to be smiling, after I get used to the temperature. So, at first it is may be uncomfortable, but eventually, I relax and there is no where I’d rather be. Eventually, when we realize that the thoughts and feelings are only temporary, we will, naturally, relax. We are not the thoughts or feelings, we are Spirit. Our Spirit transcends these thoughts and feelings. But, through exploring and being curious about these reactions we will grow. It’s like going into a scary cave and finding treasure. Like Joseph Campbell has said, “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” That quote captures the essence of why we need to be mindful. Let’s look closer at how to practice mindfulness.1. Notice when we are getting distracted by thoughts.
When negative thoughts pop up, they are from the ego or as some call it, the “monkey mind.” Instead of reacting to the thoughts, let them pass. Vipassana meditation helps strengthen this skill of not reacting to thoughts. Sit in a quiet place, start with five minutes. Count your breaths up to ten or say, “ho” on the inhale and “hum” on the exhale. Over time, work up to 20 minutes, twice a day. Each time you notice a distracting thought, bring your mind to the present. When you do this, it is a big deal. You are reprogramming how your mind is operating. By doing this simple exercise, you are training yourself to be more fully awake.
2. Focus your attention on the task you are doing, at the moment.
The activity could be talking to a friend, gardening, doing the dishes, etc. If for example, we are gardening, we could focus on being with the elements:
1. how does the soil feel?
2. feeling gratitude for this opportunity to nurture a beautiful plant
3. how does the plant feels against my skin?
4. feeling the sunshine on my face, and many more features
4. After you have practiced letting thoughts pass, pay attention to them.
It can be overwhelming to start paying attention to these thoughts, on purpose, because some of them are painful. For most of us, these thoughts occur and we are attached. Without realizing it, we are bonded like glue to the thoughts or feelings. However, in being mindful, we are not attaching to the thoughts; we are interacting differently. The previous exercises of detachment are important, but once you’ve gotten the hang of noticing, now it’s time kick it up a notch and learn a new skill of being a compassionate observer.
You may be asking yourself, but what is the point of listening to my thoughts and feelings? Our bodies are like receptors conveying what is stored in the subconscious or unconscious. When we tune into our bodies, thoughts, and feelings, we are listening to important messages. These messages could be negative messages or positive. Paying attention to all our thoughts, feelings, and body clues lets us know what is going on, at a deeper level. We all go about part of our days on an unconscious level. For example, when we drive, it is routine. We don’t think about each individual step involved in driving, we just do it.
There are many beliefs and stories we tell ourselves throughout the day. They have become so familiar they are like an old friend. Except that they aren’t friends, if the stories are hurting us. These unconscious believes are acted out. We come become so attached to these beliefs that they seem so real and rational. Yet, these negative, disempowering beliefs are harmful and they need to be looked at. Once, we become mindful of our feelings or thoughts, we can explore what is underneath and get to the root of the problem. Then, we can put it in perspective. We can, then, realize that a belief doesn’t serve us.
It is very important not to attach to the thoughts, but be a compassionate observer. This crucial piece is different from fixating on thoughts and adhering to them. In this new role, you will explore the story or sensation, in a non-judgmental way. When you experience a sensation, feeling, thought, or memory, use that as an opportunity for growth. Become curious. Detach from the experience and see what you can learn as a compassionate observer.
Brene Brown, in her book, Rising Strong, gives some suggestions for questions to ask.
1. What do I need to learn from this situation?
2. What assumptions am I making?
3. What do I need to learn about the other people in the story?
4. What additional information do I need?
5. What questions or clarifications might help?
6. What’s underneath my response?
7. What am I really feeling?
8. What part did I play in this?
I challenge you to pick three times a day, to tune into yourself, for at least one minute. It could be before or after meals, or before you open an email, or other rituals that you have. If this practice is new to you, you may not feel anything, but keep noticing. You could try this exercise: start with your pelvis and work up to the tip of your head. Do you notice any areas that feel different than others? If so, how would you describe it? Is it a positive sensation or a negative sensation? If you have a meditation practice, start observing your thoughts and feelings during meditation. Explore what is underneath, at the root. Remember, that over time, you’ll become more conscious of thoughts and feelings and will start to learn more about yourself. This practice will give you more awareness about yourself and others.
Respecting your journey,
Catherine Oliphant, M.Div., M.S.S.W.
Spiritual Life Coach
Facebook: Just Flow Spiritual Life Coaching
Email: cloliphant@yahoo.com
