Mindfulness Magic

The skill of mindfulness is not complicated and is in fact a capacity all of us have, but it must be recognized and practiced. The simplest definition of mindfulness is that it is the ability to observe our own thinking and experience. The busy mind is prone to thinking all the time, but we have the internal ability to step back from thinking and observe it at work. So, if my thinking mind has taken off again with its habit of following a “What if” thought, like what if my boss is thinking I didn’t do the job, or what if I don’t have enough money this month, there is part of us that can step back and see “there is that worry again.”

The more time we spend practicing observing the less time we spend captured or fused with our thoughts. This is called dis-identification. When we can dis-identify with thoughts we may be able to see the thought for what it is. We may be able to discern truth instead of just buying into what thinking has to say. So, from the observer standpoint I could see that the worry about money is coming up again and I could also observe that there was enough money last month, or the boss gave me a positive evaluation a couple weeks ago.

Sometimes it takes some practice to disengage from thinking and assume the position of the observer. A simple mindfulness practice is to close the eyes, bring your attention inside, and focus your attention on the movement of breath in the body. You can notice the rise and fall of the chest, the expansion and contraction of the ribcage, the rise and fall of the belly. As you attend to the breath, you can count the breaths saying to yourself, “10, breath in, 10, breath out, continue counting down for 10 breaths. Notice the stillness in the mind, the relaxation in the body, and notice yourself as the observer who is aware of this experience.

The magic that is produced with mindfulness expands the more we do it and includes no longerbeing a victim of every thought we have, reducing fear, enjoying periods of stillness and quiet, and developing a new standpoint of wisdom and discernment. As you stand in the observer standpoint you are also increasing positive biochemistry in the nervous system and decreasing harmful biochemistry. This can affect your health, your sleep, and your experience of joy and pleasure in positive ways.