Mindfulness

An aim for the season is to understand and develop mindfulness. A route to making sense of emotions, being able to understand them to move on and away from them. Through uni developing a mindset/ outlook which isn't black and white has taken time, seeing in shades of grey. 

It is 1 things to see in shades of grey, another to act and respond in the same way. 

Mindfulness is being able to focus the mind on the present. Not ruminating on the past, worrying over the future - but enjoying the moment, which is every moment.

A nice analogy of mindfulness and a way to think of it, dealing with emotions as if they are visitors coming to your guest house or just house in general. If you give them a negative response, that's how they will stay. The best way to go is by having a positive outlook, being welcoming throughout and then letting them pass when necessary. 

By acknowledging emotions / thoughts they lose power. We start to create stories to make us feel better, allowing emotions to manifest by leaving them be. 

A great deal of mindfulness comes with the ability to notice.. to notice when thoughts are being hijacked. I guess, noticing when the chimp takes over and being able to rein him/her in. There are many ways in which to developing mindfulness which stem from being present to a sense. 

Science and research shows that we as humans cannot access more than 1 sense at a time, we cant. We cant hear fully whilst tasting, we cannot put our attention 100% into feeling whilst also seeing. Having an sense which also includes breathing as an anchor offers a starting point, when we feel thoughts drifting we come back to this. 

An interesting concept to tame the mind, thoughts and emotions which seem to rule the world upstairs. Challenge is finding methods and exercises to develop mindfulness, just like exercising a muscle, we need to exercise the brain.. make it feel uncomfortable and put in the effort to develop being present.