Mindfulness
A google search of the word mindfulness provided me with 61,100,000 results. How can we talk about mindfulness in a simple way? Psychology Today defines it as ” a state of active, open attention on the present. When you’re mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.”
Observing Thoughts and Feelings
It sounds like a full time job. How can we get anything else done? Like any other topic we are interested in, talking to others about it, reading a book, researching on the internet are all good ideas. This article written by Christopher Bergland, is an introduction. He says, we “do not have to sit in lotus position to practice mindfulness.” I would agree, we can observe thoughts and feelings anywhere and anytime.
Letting Go of Judgement
It seems when we can let go of judgement of our own selves, we can start to let go of judgement of others. Judgment is an important skill to have. The trick is to not judge ourselves too harshly. A common challenge for folks is judging themselves too negatively.
Self Compassion
If a friend or even a stranger were to ask for kindness or compassion, you would share those things with them. By acknowledging and perhaps letting go of self judgment, you are practicing self compassion. It is an important part of living in this world. How do you practice mindfulness? Listening to or creating music, knitting, reading, walking, swimming, meditating, praying or painting? I am thankful there are so many ways to practice mindfulness and self compassion.
