Is the goal to be mindful every waking moment?

[mickey]

Hi everyone,

I'm working through the Penman / Williams course and enjoying the benefits of the guided meditations.

I find myself constantly trying to be "present" every waking moment, i.e when walking the dog , driving, working etc and this can lead to frustration. Would I be better concentrating on the meditations and waiting for it to cross over into every day through the practice?

[JonW]

Hi Mickey,
Welcome to the forum.
Just to clarify. The aim is not to be mindful every waking moment. As much as anything, mindfulness involves catching ourselves and noticing when we're not being mindful, when we're on auto-pilot.
With practice and time, this noticing becomes second nature, similar to the way your body automatically corrects itself when you trip on the pavement. After a while, it's all meditation.
I look forward to getting to know you here.
All best wishes,
Jon

[mickey]

Hi John,

That's a definite relief! I kinda hoped the idea was like training a muscle, so eventually i escape the auto pilot way of thinking more often.

I was starting to analyse and scrutinise every thought or internal commentary throughout the day which is exhausting and frustrating!

Thanks for getting back to me

[Peanut]

I was starting to analyse and scrutinise every thought or internal commentary throughout the day which is exhausting and frustrating!

I seem to have been constantly doing this recently and have been practicing for almost four months! Does anyone have any tips for this? It is getting very exhausting.

Sometimes I will even be walking down the road and notice a car, or flowers or a colour and as I observe it I think "I am being mindful" which kinda detracts from the moment because then I start thinking/worrying about being mindful

[JonW]

Try seeing this as yet another invitation to be mindful: "noticing the fact that I'm conscious of being mindful."
It's just another thought. It doesn't mean that you are doing anything wrong.
Be patient. This all takes time. Be kind to yourself.
All best,
Jon

[Mischa]

It does take time. I practice formal mediation on a daily basis for months now, and there are days when my first informal notion of awareness comes late in the afternoon.
And then I think, with kindness, geez, why didn't I think of this sooner.

[Matt Y]

Hi Folks,

There's a common misunderstanding evident here. Namely, the assumption that if you are thinking you are not being mindful. That's simply not true. You can be mindful of thoughts too.