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OOPS! There I go again, tumbling down those basement
steps. As I lay at the bottom of the stairs looking
towards the top where I had begun in an upright
position, I wondered. Why do I unintentionally keep
doing things that hurt so much? After some pondering,
I realized, the key word to my question was unintentional.
I fell because I wasn't focused on not falling.
Neither my thought nor action was intentional. Rather
than being mindful of what I was doing at that moment,
I let my thoughts race toward, my shirt that needed
ironing, being late for work and man's best friend
who had yet to be fed. I thought about everything
except those feet needing to touch those steps.
Had I been mindful of all of the things racing through
my head that were distracting me from the goal at
hand, I surely would have arrived at my destination
safe and sound. When I walk down a flight of stairs
I should only be walking down that flight of stairs
and nothing more. A simple rule with a consistent
successful outcome that I often fail to adhere to
throughout the race that is life.
While the term mindful is ever so popular in our
culture today, the concept which has been a mainstay
of Buddhist philosophy for hundreds of years is
simplistic, difficult to practice, underutilized
and seldom maximized. How effective and efficient
would our efforts be if we made sure to be aware
of every behavior, every action and every step in
our journey and all that slows us down or stops
up completely? How much more rewarding and satisfying
would our lives be if we focused on the purpose
of our thoughts, words and deeds and the outcomes
desired?
Frequently we race through life immersed in thoughts
of something we need to do tomorrow, next week,
next month and miss the opportunities that are present
in the moment. How often do we set forth on a journey
without purpose, clarity or a sense of value?
I have learned the hard way that being mindful
is not about having a full mind. That doesn't take
any work or focus at all. I can have a full mind
without even being awake. The art of mindfulness
is the act of slowing down and becoming aware of
the internal and external processes inhabiting our
space and mind and impacting our behavior, emotions
and thoughts at any given moment in time. Mindfulness
is not increased concentration. It is a process
of observation and heightened awareness that increases
our potential for mastery over our behaviors, environment
and our life's outcomes. Had the chicken been more
mindful, it may never have crossed the road and
if it had it would surely have crossed it at night
or early morning when the traffic was low and its
chance for success high.
As I consider the concept of mindfulness it is
apparent that it offers an opportunity for me to
consistently walk down the stairs without tumbling
to the bottom. It can render a life that is more
rewarding, satisfying, effective, efficient and
consistent with our personal values. So why don't
we utilize this concept more consistently? I believe
it is because it is easy to become lost on the conveyor
belt of life, which carries us so swiftly through
our days that, most of the time we have little focus
on what we are doing and why we are doing it. Life
becomes a habit rather than a choice. The demands
upon our time, attention and energy are tremendous
and ever growing. The societal norm is based on
more and more and faster and faster. This pace does
not support an opportunity to observe and focus
on what is going on inside and outside of us. It
supports doing and reacting to the moment instead
of being in the moment.
To be mindful I must slow the conveyor belt down,
stop it or get off to reflect on what is happening
and what I am responding to. Step off, take a break,
relax, take deep breaths, and observe all that is
going on around me and within me. I set aside time
each day to become aware of my actions, thoughts,
distractions and feelings. I ask myself, are they
in sync with my goals, priorities and values? Mindful
observation provides clarity and awareness and a
greater opportunity for self-actualization, success
and a life more in harmony with my personal values
and beliefs.
I often practice sitting quietly in a chair for
5-10 minutes and observe all that passes through
my mind. At times I find it helpful to picture each
thought/feeling floating by on a cloud. I name it
and let it go rather than trying to concentrate
on distracting and unsettling thoughts or feelings.
I observe my body and the sensations going on within
it. I observe sounds and sights in the room and
become aware of how I respond to them rather than
being distracted by them. I have to remember that
I am not trying to create any particular sensation,
action, thought or feeling. I am merely an observer
sitting in a window watching me as I interact with
the world I live in. Sounds and thoughts will distract
me at times. This is normal. As I become aware of
my distractions I bring myself back to the exercise.
Becoming aware of my distractions is an example
of heightened awareness, which is what I am striving
for.
This exercise is simple to do and can fuel a more
enriching and rewarding life. I try to take the
time to practice my mindful focus on a daily basis.
Knowing what is driving my train gives me the ability
to choose to go along for the ride or to get off.
It allows me to understand where I am going and
why. I am able to identify and master my distractions
and increase my opportunity to choose behaviors
that lead to successful outcomes that are satisfying.
So remember! If a chicken talks you into going
across the road with it, know what prompted you
to say ok and always make the chicken go first.
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