We all know what pace the world in going along at these days. It seems to be going along at a mile a minute. Well our brains are no different. I am sure you have found yourself thinking about things in the past over and over again – well don't worry you are not alone. Everyone has bouts of dwelling on the past. This can become a problem for many people if they are ill equipped emotionally to deal with the pressures the mind can inflict on them.
The thing to realize about the mind is this is where emotions start. The funny thing about emotions is that unlike most thoughts we can actually feel them physically. Negative thoughts, anxiety, unhappiness etc produce real bodily feelings that we sense. We need to remain aware of what we feel and why we are feeling like this.
When it comes to decision making self awareness is very important. When you think about it if we are not in control of ourselves how can we take control of our own destiny and circumstances? As with any other extreme though an extreme amount of self awareness can be detrimental. It can cause us to be too fearful of the consequence of taking action. ‘Extreme self awareness’ can lead us to being overly judgemental of our experiences and actions. If you want to get the balance right help is at hand.
We have all heard of Zen Buddhism and that is where the concept of mindfulness has its origins. It is a magnificent, beautiful way of seeing the world around us. Mindfulness is the art of living in the present moment without passing judgement on whatever experience we are living through. While the concept is simple, implementing it is challenging and requires self discipline. Teach yourself to focus your attention on the moment you are experiencing. Avoid passing judgment or applying any subjective thoughts and feelings. Simply observe what is happening both in your mind and externally around you.
This attitude allows your mind to be cleansed and refreshed. You can begin straight away through the following exercise: The next time you meet someone you know try to see him/ her through fresh eyes. Try to see him/her as though you have never met before. Try this exercise with family members, colleagues and friends. This can be done in any situation or environment – whether you are in a familiar or not so familiar environment.
One of the most important benefits of mindfulness in terms of personal contentment and success comes from knowing whether you are thinking something that is unhelpful or unrealistic. Being mindful means learning to experience your thoughts without passing judgement on their ‘truth’. Considering that many of the negative thoughts you experience when you are emotionally upset tend to be distorted and unhelpful. It is much better to let these thoughts go, identify them as natural symptoms of a particular emotional state. Thoughts and emotions work in tandem with one another. The sooner you come to the point where you can view them objectively the better your personal feelings will become.
Increase your familiarity with the thoughts that enter your head when you feel down and depressed will make it easier for you to recognise them as thoughts rather than concrete facts. Once you have become familiar with the dark side of emotions you are further equipped to cope and manage negative thoughts in reality. You can practice mindfulness in the most mundane of everyday settings and help to enhance you r appreciation of the pleasures of life such as eating and listening to music.
By: Les Hutchinson
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