Mindfulness is a journey towards moment-by-moment awareness without judgment; a tranquil state of being, calm to all you witness, able to greet life’s chaotic flow with curiosity and grace. The primary requirement is presence—shifting your attention to the here and now. How you respond to what you observe will define each experience and all that follows.
Thoughts, emotions, and sensations are like the weather of our mind, arriving like clouds in the sky, unpredictable and unavoidable. Through mindfulness we can cultivate a state of being where we are calm come rain or shine and affect the weather we find.
Our mindset governs our response to what we observe, whether bringing softness and openness, which will allow the clouds to lighten and maybe drift on, or adding tension and constriction, which will make the clouds heavier, with more severe and longer lasting weather.
“So much of life is beyond our control. Within human existence the only choice we have is where to focus our attention and how.”
This article provides the mindsets to intentionally foster to move you towards a state of mindfulness. Think of these as your foundations of mindfulness, each promoting lightness and openness in your mind. May they bring guidance and courage as you encounter each moment of life’s unravelling.
These are in no particular order and they overlap so you don’t need to remember them all to apply the essence of their purpose:
1. Non-Judgment
"Judging your thoughts is just another thought."
Minds love to give opinions (or judgments). It is what they do. When you observe your mind’s activity you will likely have an opinion on what you see, positive or negative. Observing these opinions will deepen your understanding of how and why your mind forms them. You may come to see that your opinions are not always accurate or useful. This is a powerful realisation.
2. Gratitude
"Nothing is enough."
Finding joy in what you have is essential for a life lived on your own terms, released from an endless striving for more. We are all victims of advertising, persuading us that we could be happier if only we had a new object, experience, or appearance. There are so many reasons to be grateful, though often we need to remind ourselves to observe the abundance already in our lives.
Showing gratitude for another’s kindness encourages more kindness. Reflecting on reasons to be grateful leads to greater resilience and a more optimistic outlook on life.
Breathe Play Love is currently offering a Free 15 Day Gratitude Challenge—follow this link to sign up.
3. Curiosity
"Wide eyes expand your mind."
As children we understand how to be, curious and playful with the world, open to new experiences and sensations. Curiosity opens you to deeper understanding and expanded knowledge.
Make curiosity your intention as you approach each moment, allowing each thought, sensation, and emotion to be something worthy of closer inspection. Curiosity is the cure for boredom, a surprisingly common challenge of modern life.
4. Compassion
"Love opens what fear closes."
Compassion entwines empathy with love, acknowledging the suffering of self and others, accepting that all are worthy and in need of love. Love softens all it finds, able to heal, bond, and inspire courage. Each moment delivers a fresh opportunity for kindness and compassion.
Your inner and outer world all takes place within your mind. Shine a light of compassion into yourself and your mind and enjoy the calm it brings. Notice how greeting thoughts, emotions, and sensations with compassion enables them to soften and lose grip. Let love transform your world and all you interact with.
5. Letting Go
"No breath may be held forever."
As life passes through your fingers you may be tempted to grab at things you enjoy. A place, a person, a way of being, a relationship, an idea, or an object of your liking. How attached you become to everything in your life dictates how affected you will be when that thing changes or leaves you. Be mindful of how rigid your attachments are; see if you can loosen them, creating flexibility and freedom.
Letting go is about accepting the reality that all things are impermanent. The world is constantly in motion, as are you. Clinging too much to anything, means rejecting a universal truth, making you more vulnerable to inevitable change and pain. Let go and be free.
6. Patience
"Now’s beauty awaits distracted minds."
How often do you wish the current activity would pass quicker? How much of life is lost hasting towards a future destination? Life is always on. There is no ‘in-between’ things. You are always being something, somewhere, the only variable is how you approach each moment of life’s passing.
Be calm with progress. Go slow enough to bare witness to the abundance that lies unnoticed within the present. Take moments of slowness as an opportunity to check-in, breathe, and ground yourself in that place. Patience gives purpose to every moment of your being.
7. Beginner's Mind
"First sight is the truest."
We arrive into each moment with so much baggage in our mind, flavouring all we see. The ideas in our mind cloud our judgment and prevent us from seeing reality as it really is. Letting go of what we think we know allows us to see more freely and truly.
Accept all that you see as you find it. Be mindful of the assumptions your mind makes. Try and be open within each moment, seeing it as if for the first time, welcoming the joyous rapture that novel beauty brings. Everything changes after all, so accept your ignorance and allow freshness to be your wisdom.
8. Non-Striving
"Stop trying to be, and be."
Modern life has created a maze for humans, always chasing after something or trying to become someone they are not. Be mindful of these pursuits, aware of what is right for you and what is not.
‘Doing’ requires energy. ‘Being’ allows a natural flow of existing energy. Use force and energy wisely, knowing that when you feel resistance you are being reminded how far you are from the natural flow. When in-sync, you can surf the waves of life with grace and calm, leaving more energy available to apply where you wish.
You will still desire, though be mindful that too much focus on a positive future state can devalue your present circumstance; even the desire to be free of desires. Allow each moment to be as it is, without an opinion. Use intention to move you towards something, not brute force.
9. Acceptance
"It is what it is."
Fundamental to being at peace with yourself and your life is accepting it all as it is. Acceptance is not about being passive and without care. Apply wisdom and discernment to navigate the truth of your reality by first accepting things as they truly are.
Don’t try to force things to be any other way than they are. Healing begins with acceptance. Allowing things to be gifts freedom from suffering.
10. Trust
"You will never fly unless you trust your wings to carry you."
Our lives are defined by how much fear dominates our mind. How much am I willing to reveal of myself to the world? Do I dare step into the unknown? How do I let go of my fear?
Fear can keep you safe but will also hold you back from growth, keeping you within your comfort zone. Trust grows courage necessary to let go of fear and doubt. You have survived so much in your life, trust that you will deal with whatever happens next, good or bad. You trust your body and organs to be wise with your health; why not also trust the inner voice in your mind that knows you better than you know yourself? You are the most important guide on your journey. Trust that.
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