Mindfulness is an amazing practice that increases our awareness. While this practice can be difficult to learn and can easily take many years to master it is well worth the effort. It is possible to notice the effect it has once you start to connect your emotions to negative consequences. For me it was anger. I was able to catch myself becoming angry and instead of reacting based on emotions I was able to make a thoughtful decision in the moment.
Something that is used to obtain this is the insight meditation. This meditation relays on us to focus on something and to work on our single-pointedness of the mind. There are many different visualizations or aspects that are taught. The most practical in my opinion and most beneficial from my practice is to focus on the breath until interruptions arise. These interruptions can be physical or mental. You are to note them but move back to the focus of the breath. This version is what is taught by the Buddha, Gotama, in the scriptures of The Satipatthana Sutta. We are developing awareness by focusing on the breath. This may seem weird at first trying to focus on this and may take some work to stay focus. Do not work too hard but let it come naturally. Remember to note other distractions but do not focus on them. Almost like watching clouds roll by in the sky. You would not follow them forever, would you? You look at the pattern and Let It Go.
So you might be wondering more about how to note one of these mental interruptions instead of focusing on it. So think about how our minds work. We start with one thought that leads to another, and another, and so on and so forth. We will continue to do this without a break and we will eventually realize that it has been a long period of time that we have been fantasizing or worrying about bills or whatever it may be. So there is a difference between actually having a thought and being aware of one. It can be subtle. It is a difference of feeling or texture. When you are just aware of it, you are seeing it almost from a distance. It is light in nature and you do not hold on it is as easily.
I hope this makes sense. I have a lot more to add and will soon. The following are some of my points to be made about mindfulness.
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How Mindfulness can help you:
Mindfulness stems from mediation and its roots go way back in the Buddhist tradition and practice. The idea is to be aware of your thought process, emotions, and anger. We, as steeminians, are in the process of communication all day long. We stare at our screen and disconnect from the world and straight into this different world. Mindfulness can help you stay calm and making good decisions in the moment. Invest correctly and smartly and communicate respectfully and without any regret.
Mindfulness is good for:
Our minds and how we think:
Positive thoughts and emotions are greatly increased while the negative thought process is stopped.
Our Bodies:
It is possible to increase our immune function from mindfulness and meditation.
Compassion:
Helps us understand the suffering of others (very important in Buddhism) and also helps us understand why helping others is important.
Relationships:
Researchers have discovered that these techniques greatly help couples in their relationships. It allows each person to feel more optimistic about the relationship and also be more relaxed and reduce tension.
People In Need:
This practice helps people who are at the lowest of their lives, suffering traumatic changes in their lives and also people who just need the clearness of mind to grow. Including Veterans, incarcerated people, new parents and really anyone who wants to grow.
A breakdown of how and why:
The idea is to be aware of how you think. What you react to. What your emotions are based on an incoming sensation. You can start your meditation by focusing on your breathing or you can try to start focusing on your thoughts. Mindfulness is a type of mediation so you can approach it however you choose. I suggest just really being aware of everything you do/think and why. Study this for the next few days. See if you can break down the process. The goal would be to catch yourself anytime you experience emotion. That is going to be the first step or goal. Once you start catching yourself in this process then you can work on it. You will want to sculpt your reaction to what will benefit you in the long run.
There are many different types of meditation and I plan on discussing these in later posts.
