Mindfulness also has a temporal element to it. Being mindful asks you to be firmly in the present. So often my brain is pulling me into the past (which I cannot control) or pushing me into the future (which I also can't really control). One thing I really focused on during our meditation in class was keeping mind in the present by focusing on an anchor point that kept me in the here and now. For a while I was concentrating on my feet pressing against the floor. I focused on my spine for a little while. Then I listened to my heart. Anything that gave me a connection to the present.
I was also thinking about Ron Swanson when he went to meditation with Chris. I couldn't find the clip, but here's a pic that gives the idea.
If you'd like to say little bit about your meditation today in class, please do so in the comments. I'd be interested to hear how it went for you.
I absolutely agree, Max, that mindfulness plays out in different parts of our lives. These days, I've been thinking a lot about mindful relationships--with new ways to connect with friends (like facebook, even though it's not that new), I've found it all too easy to have casual and unintentional friendships with people. However, I don't find this all that satisfying. So, I've been trying to be more intentional, pay attention, on purpose, and not judge--so far it's worked really well with my siblings :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think you're on to something with focusing on an anchor point when meditating. I do a similar thing. When I find my mind wandering, I focus my attention on my body, starting from my toes to my head and centering on the places where my body is making contact with things (the floor, the chair, other parts of my body, etc.). I also do circle breathing where I breath in my nose and out my mouth (which I think I learned about in yoga). That certainly helps when my mind wanders out.
Looking forward to reading more from you in the future!