Mindful mojo.

[James123]

I first got in to mindfulness (via FPIAFW) a couple of years ago but only ever completed 5 of the 8 weeks because Christmas arrived and I got side tracked. I've dabbled in meditating periodically 2 or 3 times a week since and recently started trying to be more mindful during the day again. I'm actually attending a "proper" 8 week course in January.

However, recently when I've been practising mindfulness during the day I've found it increasingly hard to have a beginners mind. In other words my appetite for fully indulging about learning mindfulness isn't what it originally was. I'm not up for it as much for want of a better phrase.

For instance, this morning I tried to have a mindful shower and then mindful breakfast but the impetuous was half what it used to be when I used to practice mindful eating originally.

Any tips on how I can get my mindfulness mojo back?

[JonW]

Hi James,
I'd advise returning to FPIAFW and starting the course again. Weeks 6-8 are pretty crucial in terms of grounding yourself in the practice.
Cheers,
Jon

[James123]

Thanks Jon.

Well as I said I'm hopefully doing a 8 week MBSR course in January based on MW's book I think, so maybe I'll keep trudging along until then.

[Gareth]

The ups and downs come and go and some days you feel like meditating more than others. All I can say is that I've found through experience that the days that you least feel like meditating are probably the days you need to meditate the most. It's not always easy, but I've always found it to be worthwhile.

[James123]

Thanks G. Good advice.

How long do you generally meditate for and do you do it once or twice a day btw?

Actually I'd like to open the above question up to everyone on here.

I read somewhere it's good to think about why you meditate (more relaxed, sleep better, help with anxiety/depression etc) as it will entice you to definitely practice and to try your best to do it at the same time every day if poss.

[Gareth]

At the moment, the circumstances of my life demand that I meditate first thing in the morning, as soon as I open my eyes, before going to work. When I get home there is too much to do, and quite a lot of tiredness. I am fitting a yoga session in most afternoons, which is mindfulness practice of a sort. I meditate for 30 minutes.

For me at least, meditation is no longer a "thing"; it's just something I do every day, it feels completely natural. Also, the lines between formal meditation and everyday life have become completely blurred. Meditation feels embedded into my life forever.

[mintful]

I only do formal meditation at home for about 15 Minutes a day.
I do walking meditation for about an hour a day.
I do breathing Meditation and mindfulness practice in public transport about 30 Minutes a day.
I always do mindfulness/breathing/headspace meditations whenever I start feeling stressed which is about approximately 50 Times a day.
Whenever I meditate or reinforce my mindfulness I think about where I've been, what the journey was about and where I'm know.
This very often makes me feel lost and in pain about the things I have done and the love I have lost by being the man I was.
Then I smile and feel how this bitter sadness and little insight is a very good source of love and self compassion and compassion for everybody in my life.
This feeling of being in my own mindful world (which includes everybody else) is lasting longer and longer with each day.

I think if you continue your mindfulness routine at some point the lines between formal meditation and your mindful life just vanish.