We practice mindfulness to cultivate awareness. Mindfulness, simply put, is awareness of the present moment without judgment. When awareness is present, the mind will operate in a certain direction. When we are not bringing awareness—of our sensations, feelings, and thoughts—to the present moment, we are operating in the realm of unconscious habit, which leads us to doing the same thing and getting the same results.
When we cultivate awareness of our habitual patterns, we develop the freedom to change them and do something different. The key is to be aware of our painful patterns with an attitude of non-judgment, interest, and kindness and use this awareness to. then inquire, “Now what?” What will we do to begin to change the pattern so that we can decrease our suffering? Awareness brings freedom and a sense of peace and genuine happiness.
Use the habits of the mind as the path of awakening. –Sarah Powers
Take some time today, pause, soften, and connect with yourself with mindful awareness. In moments of suffering in your life, start to bring attention to notice the arising of that suffering. Begin to inquire how you can start to change the habitual patterns of thinking or behaving that bring about suffering for you. In those moments, try to do something different. You’ll find many of your answers when you become aware of the state of your body, heart, and mind and try to meet whatever you encounter with non-judgment, interest, and kindness.
If you’d like to grow your awareness, start with your present moment experience. We experience the present moment through sensations, feelings, and thoughts. So bring awareness to your moment to moment sensations– notice what it feels like to be in this body in this moment. Then bring awareness to your feelings–what emotions are present in this moment? Then bring awareness to your state of mind–what is the current mental state in this moment? Take a deep breath, and let it go.
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[…] Cultivate Awareness – One of the many Mindful posts by Jen Johnson of Everyday Mindful. By practicing awareness of our habitual patterns, we develop the freedom to change them and do something different. […]