It has been brought to my attention that the word ‘mindfulness’ gets thrown around a fair bit when people speak about mental health strategies and in things like spirituality and Buddhism, but it rarely gets a definition or explanation. What is mindfulness? It incorporates lots of different mental and physical techniques with an underlying purpose to live in the present. The aim of this short essay is to explain what mindfulness is to me, and hopefully stimulate your thinking around the subject so you have a greater understanding of what the practice is comprised of.
As far as I can tell mindfulness has specific behaviours or patterns of thinking to address life situations that inevitably arise, with a goal to live fully and completely in the present moment. So; how do I get to the present? How do I stop negative thoughts mindfully? How do I deal with everyday situations in a mindful way?
Mindfulness Meditation
I become bound to the present through mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation is a common type of meditation discipline which aims at delivering one to the present moment through changing the way we think about life. It may be understandable for most to say they are already in the present – and I would say that physically? Absolutely. However mentally most people are almost never living in the present, preoccupied with fears of the future and regrets of the past.
Here is a link to a guided meditation narrated by Alan Watts that helped me understand what meditation should be, but I’ll also elaborate on what it has done for me. Meditation points out to oneself that they are not at all separate from every other thing that is going on in the whole universe, but actually completely inseparable. It is all one fundamental cosmic rhythm, and you are the part of the rhythm that expresses itself as you. Realize that your thoughts, as in the words that you say to yourself inside your head are not in fact controlled in any way by you. You do not think your thoughts, just like you do not beat your heart, you just think, and your heart just beats.
This pattern of thinking of you as the thinker rather than the contents of the thoughts themselves can be very beneficial in dealing with negative thought and behaviour.
Negative Thoughts
So how does one go about dealing with negative thoughts using mindfulness techniques? Firstly, there are some assumptions that mindfulness meditation has taught us. You are the thinker, not the thoughts themselves. And then further you are not responsible for what you think, but rather responsible for what you identify with and what you let go. I’ve had problems with depression and anxiety which stemmed mainly from identifying with everything the stream of chatter inside my head offered, which then, unawares to me trapped me in a prison of my own making.
I use mindfulness to filter through the stream of thoughts that enter and exit my consciousness from moment to moment and make a conscious effort to let go of negative thoughts as soon as they appear. Understanding that thoughts hold only the power that you give to them has helped me take back control of how I respond to self-doubt, self-loathing and other negative though patterns.
Mindfulness in Everyday Life
I’m sure you have been in a situation where anger arises as someone cuts you off on the road or frustration when you feel someone is wasting your time. Life will inevitably throw you a situation that will bring up negative emotions or ‘ruin your day’ so to speak. In these moments, mindfulness shows one that this is only temporary, to be the witness of these negative emotions and then let them go. This is definitely easier said than done, but with practise can save a lot of time in states of unnecessary suffering.
If one can actually position themself to witness these emotional reactions to situations one realises that its actually quite hard to stay angry or resentful for very long, as it expends quite a lot of mental energy. Mindfulness is all about saving your mental energy for positivity rather than negativity.
The benefits for being mindfully in the present are almost limitless, and with practice can deliver one to balance, equanimity and emotional stability.
From the ashes, you will rise.
Liam