To always be mindful….

“Generosity is another quality which, like patience, letting go, non-judging, and trust, provides a solid foundation for mindfulness practice. You might experiment with using the cultivation of generosity as a vehicle for deep self-observation and inquiry as well as an exercise in giving. A good place to start is with yourself. See if you can give yourself gifts that may be true blessings, such as self-acceptance, or some time each day with no purpose. Practice feeling deserving enough to accept these gifts without obligation-to simply receive from yourself, and from the universe.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn quotes

Riiiiiight. *sigh* How does one do that?

It’s my assignment for the week- to try to be mindful, for a little while, for as long as i want/can/etc.

I have such a hard time getting past the whole….frustration thing. I was telling J today that…that it’s like, frustration is my foundation. Like how atoms are the basic building blocks of everything? My atoms are comprised of frustration.

And it seems like…the harder I try to overcome that, the worse it gets. I just…build and build and build on it until I crumble. (eheh. J provided a lovely visual re-enactment today, with dominoes. I need to get her some tinker toys or something *grin*)

I just. Don’t know how to get around that basic block. And J says, ya know, just try an eeeensy bit at a time. But. Then I get mad at myself for only doing an eensy bit. Then I get mad at myself for getting mad at myself. Then I get mad at myself just because I’m trapped in the whole cycle again. I dunno. But.

Frustrated, yeah.

i’m terrible at being mindful. i say whatever i’m thinking, with no concern about the consequences… oops 😉 btw, you must have good taste with calvin & hobbes as your avatar =) xx

I think mindfulness has two definitions. First, it means to be in the present as opposed to being in the past or future; to be mindful of ones breathing means that it is a conscious act of breathing, rather than letting it happen. To be in a mindful state is meditation in itself. Buddha talked about how the sage will say, as he exhales, “Now I am breathing out.” That is mindfulness.

The second part of the definition deals with being aware of the consequences of our actions, but like mindful breathing, it reflects the conscious act rather than the unconscious reaction. It is keeping in mind that our actions in the present create our reality in the future; it is making the choice to create our future, rather than being merely the pawn.

By being tactile do you mean that you use touch the way some use a mantra? As a way to connect you to the now and stay centered? Like a worry stone? Trying to battle your frustration is counter-productive, sometimes. Suzuki said that the way to control a bull was not to put it in a tiny corral, for then it will fight you; the way to control the bull is to give it it’s own pasture.

sillycrazeme

August 30, 2005

bieng mindful. so very much “unlike” me. lol

I agree with Rayvn about battling frustration. Frustration (anger, etc.) is like a small child who, when excluded, tantrums, but when welcomed in, quiets down. Telling yourself that you should not feel frustration causes your Frustration to tantrum because you are invalidating yourself and it. Give it space, take care of it, and don’t make it tantrum. Hugs, Jeanne

Another way of saying this, ” You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. ” Jon Kabat-Zinn