“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
- Jon Kabat Zinn
How Mindfulness Awareness Has Been A Benefit To Me
Mindful awareness is the resource I have used for the last couple of decades to cultivate the skills and abilities to surf when the water is either calm and smooth, choppy, or turbulent.
I have practiced mindfulness and yoga for 36 years. I first learned about mindfulness-awareness when I attended a workshop with Jon Kabat-Zinn. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s description of mindfulness first offered some 40 years ago continues as the description referred to by thousands of people, leaders, and organizations across the globe. JKZ describes mindfulness as the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. And he sometimes adds, “In the service of self-understanding and wisdom.”
Mindfulness is about paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment with non-judgment, and I often add with kindness and curiosity. Esther Brandon
Mindful awareness has been a resource that has expanded space for me to be with the darkness and the shadows of life. It has cultivated my awareness of how the light arises from the darkness: the light of fulfillment, the light of being happy, the light of knowing the joy of loving connection with others.
…shadow and light source both…Rumi
Mindfulness has increased my ability to be more fully present in the here and now. My practice has cultivated my ability to discern when I am reacting rather than responding thoughtfully and awarely. I have learned the power of simply pausing, taking an intentional breath, and resetting my system— then taking the next step more mindfully.
Gently breathing in, gently breathing out. Softly noticing if my mind has drifted, and if it has, softly bringing it back. It is just like a coming home— returning to the breath, the bridge that links to all of our parts.
I have nourished my ability and skills to be present with those moments of distraction or rigidity or even a bit of chaos when I will react. To pay attention with non-judgment does not mean we will not have judgments. The intention of non-judgment is to not judge ourselves for having judgments. To notice them as thoughts or feelings. Thoughts and feelings are like the clouds in the sky. Although not always easily, they will pass and float away. Your presence is the sky.
There are many different practices and paths to cultivate our ability to mindfully be awake in our lives. As the poet, Rumi said, what is important is to visit with yourself every day.
“Presence is the portal to everything we cherish. And the pathway to this natural awareness is simply relaxing back—resting in what is.”
— Tara Brach
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Whatever questions you have, please send them to me. I will get back to you within 48 hours. Esther@EstherBrandonCoaching.com