Everyday Mindfulness

I am just curious as to how people would explain in to a layperson, what we each see as what the practice boils down to. I think I would go with, 'Knowing, and being as present as possible, for what you are doing at that time and returning to this approach when the mind drifts off.'

It was this study which got me thinking: http://www.danielgilbert.com/KILLINGSWO ... RT%20(2010).pdf

Me being me, I sat and thought about the implications:

1. We can still be mindful when thinking about something other than what we are doing if we KNOW we are doing it and not lost in thought, though a more 'pure' mindfulness would just be to concentrate on the task at hand.

2. The study seems to suggest that mind wandering in itself leads to more unhappiness, so this would be the result even if we thought of some other task mindfully (which supports the 'purer mindfulness' approach in point 1.

3. We could, of course, also be thinking about what we are doing in a non-mindful way (lost in the thought), though this wouldn't be problematic in itself from a creating unhappiness view

I can see some of the experiences practitioners saying, "Why doesn't this idiot just get on with it?!" Sadly, I am one of those who wants to know what to do, when and why. I can't just 'experience and see what happens'. I also over-analyse, which does my own head in - a trait you may have noticed!

And I also used to think of mindfulness as binary: you are either being it or you aren't. Would I be better describing it if I saw it on a continuum, with fully-present, formal practice at one end, and autopilot with mind lost in wandering thought at the other?

"Why doesn't this idiot just get on with it?!"
You read my mind!

There are, of course, many divergent views and opinions on what mindfulness is.

I like to keep things simple.

To that end, I would say that to be mindful is simply to pay attention.

My main point of contention is around 'how' to be mindful. If there was one 'myth' I'd like to debunk it's the idea that you have to return your attention to the breath every time you notice yourself thinking. That would help you to be mindful of the breath but you can be mindful of anything, including your thoughts and emotions, the sounds and sights around you, physical sensations, your speech, and behaviour. To be mindful doesn't mean you have to be relaxed, fully aware, or present. To be mindful simply means to pay conscious attention to any and all real-time perceptions. In other words, you take notice of whatever you happen to be experiencing.

I think your description of mindfulness as existing on a continuum is much more helpful and nuanced than the binary proposition.

Matt Y wrote:To that end, I would say that to be mindful is simply to pay attention.
.

It's as simple as this in my opinion.

To pay attention, without judgment - sums it up neatly for me.
JW

It might the fact that I'm not an Englishman, but I thought paying attention isn't the same as being aware. One can pay attention to 'solving the equation', for instance, but if there isn't awareness of this 'paying attention', than I wouldn't call it mindfulness.

For me, 'compassionate awareness' comes very close to what I believe Mindfulness is, and seems to be easier to understand for people.

I also like Jon Kabat-Zinn's description a lot: “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally,”

Peter

When not mindful I am doing. When mindful I know what I am doing.

'When not mindful I am doing. When mindful I know what I am doing.'

Well said that man.
JW

Being aware of what you're doing when you're doing it. (without judgement)