We all find mindfulness in different ways, and it often leads us to new insights and paths. Looking back it’s interesting to examine how we first discovered mindfulness and feel thankful.
For me it was late at night during a stressful time. While browsing online for relaxation techniques, I found a site about reducing anxiety through mindfulness. After reading just one post I could feel something calming inside and decided to look for mindfulness classes in my area. It turned out that one started in two days, just a few miles away. Coincidence? I enrolled the next day.
Mindful Effects
Mindfulness classes taught me about breathing techniques, patience, inner silence, gratitude and so much more. My life began changing, and almost daily I felt like a person morphing into someone else. There were ups and downs, challenges and changes, debates and uncertainties, but the struggle was awesome.
The best part? I experienced feelings of complete love and gratitude for those who helped me along the way, who taught me lessons, who treated me well, who treated me not so well. Whatever the ultimate outcome, I wished them peace and joy–and let go. This came about through the daily practice of loving kindness.
I still made mistakes. I still stumbled and felt unsure. But I held on.
With continued practice of mindfulness techniques and meditating daily, the feeling that prevailed was one of openness–openness to past, present and future in a nonjudgmental way–but also, I literally felt “open”… I felt space for something to enter.
Mindful Connections
Months after I became aware of this feeling I was introduced to a nearby Christian church. The first night at church, while listening intently, I felt something “drop in” to my openness. Tears filled my eyes. I felt this deep, deep forgiveness, warmth and love. I couldn’t stop smiling. I also made the acquaintance of my husband 
I write all of this because almost one year later, life has changed in the most miraculous ways. Whereas I used to sit in silent, deep meditation, I now sit in silent, deep prayer. Nonjudmental awareness has deepened my sense of reflection and action. I’ve found an even deeper level and love than imaginable. The ultimate happened… I found a life in God. In all of my past turmoil, uncertainty and confusion, I have found what I’ve always been looking for… eternal love and faith.
Mindfulness was the start of a wonderful journey for me, and I hope it is for you too. I’d love to hear your story!
by Jen on September 13, 2009
As we engage in mindful living, we come across countless opportunities to train, grow and heal with the seven attitudes of mindfulness.
When I first learned about them, I decided to practice one each week in depth. Starting in the morning with some stretches and meditation, I’d read about that week’s mindful attitude and practice it throughout the day when the opportunity presented itself–and it always did. By the end of the week I had a feel for the attitude, and eventually I learned how much they work together to help us cultivate our gardens.
Seven Mindful Attitudes
1. Nonjudging Awareness–This draft sucks. It smells weird out here. I liked the other restaurant better. We often have our judge on, chitter chattering in our minds and running out of our mouths, but what if we just let the experience be the experience? As we practice, it’s tempting to judge ourselves when we catch the judgments, but it’s all part of the practice.
2. Beginner’s Mind–Everything right now is new and happening for the first time. So even though you’ve had this talk/visited this place/did this job a million times, this time it is new. See each moment as a brand new beginner. Welcome freedom!
3. Nonstriving–This doesn’t mean don’t have a plan, but we can practice staying open and flexible along the way. We can feel when we’re striving. It feels like we’re pushing or forcing a point. Maybe we want to get a certain job, and so we spend our time preparing and fixating on the outcome, but striving keeps us in chains. Shake it off gently and stay open to organic experiences.
4. Mindful Acceptance–Can we accept where we are right now, in this moment? If so, we cut ourselves free from the bonds of expectations and anything false. Accepting the moment as it is brings us to the present moment–the place we are right now. Enjoy!
5. Trust as Self Reliance–Can we trust ourselves? Can we trust in something greater than ourselves? At times we’re tempted to go with what we “think” we should be doing rather than what we trust we should do. Let’s think about it.
6. Mindful Patience–Sounds easy, but we know patience is challenging at times. In the burning feeling of impatience we find our practice. Stay mindful. Practice patience in conjunction with the other attitudes–acceptance, trust, nonstriving, etc.
7. Letting Go, Letting Be–Light and free, this attitude challenges us to just let “it” go and be what it is. I like how this one is often listed last because it so clearly works with all of the others. Let go of judging, striving, impatience, anger…just breathe. Let it be.
by Jen on August 30, 2009
It’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind. Whether that means work, relationships, social events or our own thoughts–there will come times in our lives when we feel too busy to stop and eat. Exhausted and worn thin. Tired and unsure. In those moments, let us remain mindful of rest. We can pull back without acting or reacting.
It isn’t always easy.
We want to join our friends, please our family, do good work. We go and go, pushing quiet time aside. Pushing aside our time for reflection.
At church this morning, I heard a message for the second time in one month about Jesus telling his disciples, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31) There was so much going on that they didn’t even have time to eat.
In the story, the group decides to go off to a deserted place in a boat by themselves, but the crowd saw this and by the time the boat gets to shore, the crowd is waiting. Jesus feels compassion and feeds the crowd by multiplying bread and fish. After that, he sends the disciples back on the boat and departs to the mountain to pray.
Let’s not forget to depart to the mountain to rest. To meditate. To pray. To reflect.
We come back with renewed strength.
