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CONTENTS
What the heck is mindfulness? Sounds kinda airy fairy!
One of the most useful skills and practices of all!
The "doing" of it
What does all that have to do with intention? Results?
Using the "non-judgmental" viewpoint to free up life
So, this is all it is
It's not meditation or deep relaxation
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WHAT THE HECK IS MINDFULNESS? SOUNDS KINDA AIRY FAIRY!
Mindfulness is easy and quite effective, not at all woo-woo!
It is simply
1. paying attention (noticing what is going on)
2. being intentional (aiming toward better results with your actions)
ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL SKILLS AND PRACTICES OF ALL!
In the studies and in the literature, emotional intelligence is that intelligence where one is aware of what is happening (his/her emotions) and is able to regulate his/her emotions. Not a bad idea if someone wants to be happy and to stop doing stupid, harmful, impulsive reactions.
Mindfulness is the core, the hub, around which all other skills center. Among other things, it opens the door to acceptance - which it turn opens the doors to happiness and virtual freedom from needless stress (or suffering).
THE "DOING" OF IT
It is simply saying "I notice that I feel..." "I notice that I thought..." "I notice this is what happened...". Pretty simple, but saying this causes you to be in an "observer" (or witness) mode, so that you become more objective and maintain a better perspective and are no longer in a victim mode.
Describing something in detail, anything, puts one in a different state, one of objectivity, and overcomes random thoughts that probably aren't all that useful. This practice is one of the key ones to overcome a down or depressed mood - it shifts the brain and the attention, breaking the self-perpetuating cycles of moods.
WHAT'S DOES ALL THAT HAVE TO DO WITH INTENTION? RESULTS?
All the great, great athletes are so focused on what they are doing that extraneous factors like whether somebody likes them or what might happen in the future disappear from their minds. They get to focus on getting the results they want. And you'll agree that works? (Duh!)
An example of how you would use this is:
Notice what is going on around me. (Gets you noticing and into an objective
mode without lots of distractions throwing you off.)
Ask what do I want? (What do I intend?)
What does that look like (the result, in detail, smell, taste, etc.). See the Visualization section.
USING THE "NON-JUDGMENTAL" VIEWPOINT TO FREE UP LIFE
One of the effects of mindfulness is that one "sees" the facts and emotions, acknowledging them, but in a manner that is not for "judging" them.
SO, THIS IS ALL IT IS
Again, all it is is focusing your attention such that you are simply observing, using your brain and increasing its intelligence and your perspective and observation skills in life. Not bad, huh!
IT'S NOT MEDITATION OR DEEP RELAXATION
It's not the same as meditation or deep relaxation. But you'll notice that mindfulness is used in meditation: "oh, there's a thought. It's just a thought...", which in turn leads to having a perspective on one's life where thoughts aren't real and aren't threatening. (You'll have to read the fear section to understand and believe that statement.)
Yes, I would add the practice of meditation for anyone in this world who finds him/herself in any hurry or in any stress. Whether it is 5 minutes via a timer or 20 minutes twice a day, you'll be better off with less stress, needing less sleep, feeling more resourceful, and feeling better in general!
