“Mindfulness is not designed to take you away from the difficulties in your life, but to help you accommodate them more comfortably,” Planet Mindful reminds their readers in an article titled, “Learning to live with yourself.” We’ll reiterate that because it is just so extremely important: mindfulness doesn’t take away your problems, it helps you deal with them. 

If you’re going into mindfulness thinking you will be absolved of your problems, you’re doing it wrong and you will get nothing out of the experience. You must go into mindfulness with an open mind and the mindset of compassion. Julie Bueno, the author of “Learning to live with yourself,” says that mindfulness and compassion are not mutually exclusive. They actually go hand-in-hand. You cannot have one without the other. 

Bueno calls her friend, Ed Halliwell, a “respected mindfulness teacher.” Halliwell explains that he has come to find throughout his research that meditation “[Enables] us to parent ourselves through the loving observance of mindfulness.” Allowing yourself to let go and help yourself completely is key to mindfulness. 

Halliwell also says, “At the start of my course, I ask participants to write down their goals, and then I ask them to let go of them. Mindful practice requires trust to work with uncertainty.”

Compassion and uncertainty are two things that must be accepted for mindfulness to work. You must show yourself the compassion that you show other people. You must commit and be okay with not knowing. 

So, what are the basics of mindfulness? For Planet Mindful, Bueno has you covered:

  • “Decide to set time aside: mindfulness won’t happen without an intention. There’s no need for a cushion to sit on or props.”
  • “Simply observe the present moment: this isn’t about emptying the mind of reaching for peace or calm.”
  • When the mind wanders, gently bring it to the ‘here and now.’ This process of ‘returning’ is an integral part of mindfulness.”
  • “Notice any judgments: the trickiness about the practice is ‘just observing’ without getting caught up in what our mind may tell us.”
  • “Notice how ‘warm’ you are inside: mindfulness depends upon our kindness to ourselves.” 

Just like recovery, you must be willing to commit to mindfulness for it to work. Commit to getting help today at Pinnacle Recovery. We can help you. Call now at 1-866-301-0573. Our trained and experienced staff wants to hear from you. Call now.