Mindfulness 101: A Reflection

Written by Jaan

Peer Support Worker & Qualified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher

MINDFULNESS 101

Have You Heard The Buzz?

In recent years 'mindfulness' has become something of a buzz word in various circles, be it personal development, mental health, employee wellbeing or spirituality. The word itself can appear to be a broad term that is often used in many different contexts.

However, popular wellness trends are often a bit of a double-edged sword.

On the bright side, there is much more exposure and awareness of this ancient practice in the mainstream. But on the flip side, the sheer volume of information and teachings available can make it daunting to navigate with any kind of clarity at all.

We may subconsciously begin to form unrealistic expectations and misconceptions of mindfulness, not at any fault of our own, but from looking through the many lenses that it is taught. And some views are in direct contradiction to others.

I'm not proposing that what I write here is the objective truth about this practice. I am simply offering what I feel to be a 'back to basics' way of looking at it. I encourage you to exercise your own discernment to see what truly resonates on a personal level and what doesn't.

Take what you find useful at this point in time, and discard what isn't. Keeping in mind that what we find useful can evolve over the course of our lives as we learn, change and grow with experience.

Something that you don't currently understand or appreciate may begin to resonate with you at a later stage in your life.

What Is Mindfulness? (and what it isn't)

In this article, we will be understanding mindfulness as the awareness of our mental state as we're going about our daily lives. Being aware of the thoughts circulating in the mind, the emotions they bring, and consciously choosing where to place our attention despite the presence of any unwanted thoughts.

The mindfulness we are referring to here isn't intellectual mindfulness where we think, analyze and remember information. It is not filling up the mind with knowledge and profound insights. In fact, using the intellect to be mindful can lead to mental fatigue and mind-fullness, rather than mindfulness.

What we're discussing here is often practiced in conjunction with meditation, and is more of an intuitive awareness of the present moment, and how the mind is experiencing it.

Mindfulness does not render someone immune to mistakes, nor does it grant intellectual superiority. It doesn't erase the inevitable ups and downs of life. It won't give the practitioner a flawless memory.

Please beware of any teachings and narratives that promise things that you know... that you feel... are too good to be true. Any magical pills that promise an easy way out. Any shortcuts and whatnot.

Perhaps it might be best to take the stance of an open-minded sceptic. Open to possibilities, but still willing to do your due diligence.

Does It Actually Work?

Generally speaking, we are each already 'mindful' to some extent. It's just that without training; we tend to drift in and out of mindfulness as we become overly invested in the humdrum of daily activity.

It's very easy to slip out of mindfulness, even for so-called 'experts' in the field. After all, a math teacher can still miscalculate change for cash while buying a coffee. An English teacher can still make the occasional typo. But even if the teacher falls short, true teachings will stand the test of time.

Whether or not mindfulness works depends on how and why it is practiced.

If the practice is undertaken for quick results within a limited timeframe, then it is unlikely to "work". That would be like going to the gym, doing a few sets of dumbbell lifts, seeing no immediate results, then concluding that the dumbbells don't work.

Mindfulness is the gradual working out and building of the attention and awareness muscle. It takes time, consistency, sincerity and humility. It takes a willingness to have an honest look at one's mental happenings throughout the day and remaining in tune with them.

But YES.

Mindfulness works.

For me.

I cannot promise that it will work for you because that depends on your own unique practice, which I am not privileged to. That is reserved only for yourself, and rightly so.

But I can tell you that more and more people can attest to the benefits of this practice as it gains momentum and shows no signs of slowing down.

It doesn't matter if we slip out of mindfulness as long as we keep returning it to time and time again. It sounds simple enough but it starts off feeling like learning how to ride a bike. Falling off is inevitable and is not a sign of failure.

Effective practice of mindfulness often leads to mental clarity, emotional stability and emotional maturity. This is because we learn to observe our thoughts and emotions from a distance instead of being caught up in what can sometimes feel like an emotional rollercoaster.

In Conclusion...

For those who are inclined to start or continue this path, I encourage you to take it slowly and steadily. One step at a time, as the old traditions say.

Mindfulness is not a trend for consumption, but more of a lifestyle to adopt if you're willing to get to know yourself at a deeper and more profound level.

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