• ARE YOU PUZZLED .. OR TIRED… OF HEARING YOU SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF NECESSITY TO BE MINDFUL?

     

    Recently a client expressed some irritation in the following way…I’m “summarizing” naturally!  “For a while you were the only person pushing me to learn to meditate…how important it is for me to focus or be present or be mindful….and NOW it’s everyone! It’s in articles, it’s on TV, it’s on face book and twitter! I hate being reminded of something I don’t want to do!”

    My first task was to “over look” the statement that I PUSH people…Well, perhaps a little! And especially when it comes to over all health and well-being.  Regardless, this individual’s perception is accurate.  Almost every where you turn, there’s an article or some form of reminder of the “mindfulness revolution.”  What does that mean? Perhaps it’s a simple indicator of how important the concept really is.  

    If for a moment any of us can let go of resisting that “thing” we are being told for “our own good,” we see benefit.  Whether it’s a childhood command to “drink your milk” or an adult message to “cut out soft drinks,” most of us tend to hold onto the thing we are actually DOING and resist the thing that would make us change, or direct our time and attention and energy in a new direction….. that just means you are normal.  It also means resistance to change is wired in our brains. It does NOT mean we need to continue the resistance.

    In all the years I’ve been meditating and/or teaching meditation to individual clients and workshop participants and recommending it in everything I write, I’ve not yet encountered someone who said “this does not help me.”  I’ve heard how hard it is, how sometimes it’s almost impossible, that it often produces strong restless feelings, that it takes too much time……and even under those circumstances, people do begin to see and feel the benefit if they stick with it.  I typically suggest giving it a try for a solid chunk of time — start with 7 days … see how you feel, and work up to 30 days.  Keep notes on how you feel physically, emotionally, cognitively.  And are you more aware of yourself and others and what’s going on around you? Do you concentrate more easily? Write any thing you are aware of.  Positive changes will motivate you to continue trying, to build meditation into your routine.  And gradually you’ll stop resisting and experience the benefits…and understand the reason “everyone” is talking and writing about meditation.  

    And a final note on resistance.  As you sit quietly and feel the resistance mount, say softly, out loud:  I say hello to my resistance.  I know it sounds silly.  Give it a try anyway!  Watch what happens to your feelings, your body, your thoughts.  You might be surprised. 

     

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