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INTEGRATIVE MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is the practice of opening to and accepting life just as it is, whether one is sitting upright in a formal practice or cooking dinner.  To begin we make the necessary effort to calm the mind, heart, and body.  Without this first step our intention to be present is often overwhelmed by our habits of struggling with the conditions of the moment.  Instead of struggling, we practice relaxing into the open space of loving awareness by following our breath, in and out.

From this perspective we can begin to open to these habits of the mind and heart and see more clearly the nature of experience.  Cultivating this tranquil space of awareness is training the attention to return to the present moment over and over again.  The heart of skillful practice is the ability to let go and begin again, over and over again, which in turn assists us in creating simple clear seeing. Even if you have to do that thousands of times during a session, it does not matter.

And with this intentional-focusing practice, we now know that the brain can better accommodate healing emotionally and physically, as well as assist us in relating to ourselves and others more healthfully. As we use our breath as a place to keep coming back to, it becomes our one constant refuge.  This capacity to be present over time becomes a great friend.  The ability to abide with the flow of experience creates the context for wisdom to arise.  We begin to see our life as it is in a deeply connected, intimate way and learn how to live with greater wisdom, compassion and ease.

MINDFULNESS QUALITIES

Non-striving: Non-goal oriented, remaining unattached to outcome or achievement.

Non-judging: Impartial witnessing, observing without evaluation and categorization.

Acceptance: Open to seeing and acknowledging things as they are.

Patience: Allowing things to unfold in their time, bringing patience to both ourselves and to others.

Trust: Trusting both oneself and the process of the self-regulation practice itself.

Openness: Seeing things as if for the first time, creating possibility by paying attention to all feedback.

Letting Go: Nonattachment, not holding on to thoughts, feelings, or experiences.

Gratitude: The quality of reverence, appreciating and being thankful for the present moment.

Gentleness: Characterized by soft, considerate, and tender quality; soothing, however not passive, undisciplined, or indulgent.

Generosity: Giving within a context of love and compassion, without attachment to gain or thought of return (the content of giving does not have to be material).

Empathy: The quality of feeling and understanding another person’s situation—their perspectives, emotions, actions (reactions)—and communicating this to the person.

Loving Kindness: A quality embodying benevolence, compassion, and cherishing, a quality filled with forgiveness and unconditional love.

. . . . .

“Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers,

you cannot be successful or happy.”

          Norman Vincent Peale