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WHY ARE MORE and more people talking about and practising mindfulness? It is, I believe, because more and more people find the practice of mindfulness helps them to live their lives more effectively, more peacefully, more happily and with greater ease.
When we are mindful we know that we are thinking when we are thinking, we know what we are feeling when we are feeling and what is going on in our bodies when something is going on.
Most of us don’t live with this kind of awareness, we tend to live in a kind of “automatic pilot”. We are sitting at our desk doing one thing and thinking another; we are checking something on our laptop or smart phone and suddenly we move to open a new email we see coming in; each time our phone rings it throws up something new; we have a plan for the day but then somebody knocks at the door and our attention moves us somewhere else.
And all the time we are automatically opening up new awareness and very quickly we have a whole range of activities, thoughts, plans, routines running around our mind at the same time. It is estimated that over 60,000 thoughts flow through our mind every day and most of them are repeats. We cannot stop our thoughts but we can stop engaging with our thoughts and our attachment to the thoughts – that is what mindfulness training helps us to do.
Paying attention to ourselves, others and the world around us
Today, when our attention is drawn in so many different ways, mindfulness is becoming more important. Mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention to ourselves, others and the world around us. Is is often said that mindfulness is a shift from a ‘doing’ mode to a ‘being’ mode. As human beings we are more like human doers, all the time keeping ourselves busy with endless activities to distract us from being in the present, from being with ourselves, as we are, in any one moment.
The ‘doing’ mode involves a lot of thinking about the future and the past and what this means is we are not fully living in the present. Next time you are in a shower or brushing your teeth or driving a car, just see how much of the time you are actually present with the activity and how much you are not!
One very simple technique that helps us be in the present is an exercise of mindful breathing, focusing on our breathing as a way to enhance our capacity to clear the mind. When we are focusing on our breathing, which always takes place in the present, what we are doing is learning a skill that helps to align body and mind. The skill of disengaging the mind from where we don’t want it to be, because the stuff that calls our attention can be so obsessive and compulsive, is central to mindfulness.
Developing resilience in our busy lives
Research has shown that repeating a mindful exercise over and over again improves concentration as it redirects the wandering mind. It is simple but not easy to do because the mind has a natural inclination to wander and because there is a discipline involved in doing exercises or practices over and over again.
Practising mindfulness is a long term commitment, it doesn’t happen overnight, but it is a wonderful practice with huge positive effects. It can help with our capacity to stop and pause. It helps us to understand the nature of conditioning and being on “automatic pilot”. It increases our ability to step back and listen, to be present to ourselves and be present to others. It helps us to recognise warning signs of accumulating stress and also helps us to manage stress more effectively.
The practice of mindfulness is one of the best methods for developing resilience in our busy lives.
To learn more about mindfulness come to Dublin Castle on 20 May for The Sanctuary’s 6th Annual Conference (9.00am – 4.00pm). The keynote speaker, Professor Willem Kuyken, Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre will invite the conference to consider two key questions: where has the practice and the science of mindfulness teken us so far and where are they likely to take us in the future?
Professor Kuyken will be joined by Dr Tony Bates, the Founding Director of Headstrong – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health – who will offer a personal reflection on A year of living mindfully. The Conference will be opened by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, Founder of The Sanctuary, a Centre for Mindfulness and Meditation (www.sanctuary.ie)
“The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.”
– Jalaluddin Rumi
Nice article.
I was the kind of person who worried about everything up until a few years ago until I started a vegetable garden and began exercising.
There is something about growing plants/vegetables and working with soil that help clear the mind. I cannot explain it but I can ensure you it works.
Walking also has the same effect on me. I do 3-5k per day with the dogs and it’s a fantastic way to clear the mind.
Just my experience.
Same here, I’d walk about 5k a day with the dogs, before and after work. Great way to clear the head.
Cycling is great for de-stressing as well. Throw in some steep hill climbs to burn away any tension.
We’ve a small veg plot too. Some fruits also. It’s very relaxing and it’s great to be able go out and pick some veg and use it. Or mint leafs or rhubarb.
Great for body and mind. Win win.
I plant bamboo. Helps clear the mind, as does using the bamboo to create Japanese WWII torture devices.
Makes me wish I had a garden!!
Buy a cactus. They also function as torture devices.
there are naturally occurring compounds within soil that has been shown to have an antidepressant effect. Look it up!
My WiFi went down at the weekend. It was great. Back up now though so it’s back to seeking approval on the journal while in the jacks at work
Thought that read – my wife went down……
I’ve been reading a few books about the Camino recently and I’m drawn to do it. That break from ‘real’ life and the physical challenge appeals.
Would definitely recommend it Jason. Walked it for 5 weeks two years ago after a heavy few years in work. Was a new man coming home. Met some great people and saw some lovely parts of Spain.
I’m going to do it, but it will be 2017 before I can commit fully, as I want to it all in one go, from St. Jean to Finisterre…rather than in stages. Did it really have such an affect on you?
It’s kind of hard to describe. As I said my job was pretty hectic and I was getting caught up in the rat race. Big companies demand a lot of people and it can strip you of parts of your personality and make you lose focus on what you really value in life. I was more easily agitated, enjoying things that I loved like music less etc. Can’t put my finger on what makes it so enjoyable. It strips you back to basics. Minimal clothes, basic accommodation but great company, new experiences and lovely food and wine.
Rushing to work, thinking about breakfast, looking out for the train, while listening to head phone, reading the journal and typing this message. Haven’t even started work yet!
I find calm when I am baking. My mind switches off from the past and future. I get a nice treat at the end of it too.
Information overload cognitively depletes us nowadays.. People in the past lived mindfully without knowing it .. Now the norm is to be mentally ill to some degree
It’s fantastic.
I was so shocked at how the garden has helped me relax. I was in the polytunnel yesterday evening planting out Tomatoes and I can honestly say my mind was as clear as day.
*in response to Stuart and Jason above
Agreed, gardening is a great way to relax, you get engrossed in what you’re doing, even boring weeding seems to be calming!
I was just thinking the same thi…wow! Look! Over there!!!
At €95 a ticket for the conference in Dublin Castle, I’d be happier with the money.
I’m gonna spend my €95 on drugs and hookers.
One joint and a street hag for you so!!
Livin’ the life.
“The World is too much with us, late and soon…” Written in 1802. !!!
Nothing clear’s the mind and awakens the senses’ like riding a motorcycle, heck you could even ride the Camino. If its good enough for the hairy bikers its good enough for me!!
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