Mindfulness

I was fortunate to be able to take part in a Mindfulness workshop on Saturday that was facilitated by a good friend of mine in Calgary this past weekend. When making the decision as to whether or not to participate, I was able to recognise it as an opportunity and see the benefits to be gained from the experience. Unfortunately I was not able to be in 2 places at once and needed to miss class on Friday night as well as dragon practise on Saturday. 

When I think about mindfulness I see it as consisting of two parts, but still connected to each other and part of a whole. I'm sure that most of us recognise and understand the basic concepts of mindfulness, but some of the complexities of mindfulness can be a bit harder to grasp and practise.

(Part 1) My understanding of the basic concept or definition of mindfulness is to always be in the present moment, be self aware, and conscious of our thoughts, actions, words, and surroundings. 

(Part 2) I see the second part as being in a state of non-judgemental observation. We have awareness and compassion for ourselves, others and the environment. We practise non-attachment and letting go rather rather than being detached. This allows us to be compassionate human beings and stay in a state of mindfulness. The more we practise mindfulness, the greater our ability becomes for adjusting to unforeseen circumstances, and stress. When we learn to go with the flow we become more in tune to the natural energy of the universe and to ourselves.

When i am not being mindful it is because I am thing about something in the past or a future event, or my imagination has taken over. Times of stress, anxiety and depression can be especially difficult. Because life doesn't always go smoothly and according to plan we need some tools to help us in our quest towards mindfulness. 

First we need to recognise and catch ourselves not being fully present. Sometimes that is all that is needed to come back to the present moment. Old habits are not easily broken, so remember to be kind to yourself. Some of the tools or techniques that we can utilise on a regular basis require setting aside some time each day for practise. These tools can help keep us grounded and centered. When we are grounded and centred, we tend to be calmer, more relaxed, less affected by stress and anxiety, and have the ability to think clearly. We also need to have different tools available when we are struggling or find ourselves in a situation where immediate action is required as we go through our daily routines. 

A few of the tools available are:

Breathing exercises - can be done sitting or standing

Saying "Ah" - this is a natural way to relax the body

Mantra - personal and customised to yourself

Walking meditation - can be done inside or outside

Grounding or centering - can be done anywhere

These are just a few of the many tools I've learnt that are available to us. Practise and find what works the best for you in any given circumstance and remember to be kind to yourself. Gradually those old habits will slip away and mindfulness will become more and more present in your life.

Michele Ward