There has been a fair bit written recently about the corporate packaging of mindfulness, both within businesses and as a business. The idea being, that by being mindful and reflective, we can become positive, functionally effective people and thus more productive.
What the packages seem to miss is the aspect of coming face to face with yourself through the practice of mindfulness. This meeting can be shocking and for some this shock is damaging.
The discussion turned in this direction recently on a tai chi Facebook page. There were two others, I can't remember who now. Both, reflecting on some point relative to the thread, mentioned this kind of scary/freaky experience. It's nice to think nice things about yourself, but coming face to face with your own roiling uncalled thoughts can shake you up. Some people just can't deal with that. They are the thoughts, what else could they be. I remember in the beginning it made me feel quite ill. Of course the thing about mindfulness is that over time the thoughts become fewer and as you allow them to go on their way without you, they lose their power over you.
Physical work, done with mental focus, seems to bypass this problem. Almost any activity will do. The more immersive the better; if it's the dishes, it's the dishes, if it's a hand form, it's the hand form.
So
Where are you when you practice.
How present am I when I practice.
These movements are our meditation
These principles, our tools
To fully appreciate something, a person has to be present.
To fully appreciate a person, you have to be there with them, in body and in spirit.
What the packages seem to miss is the aspect of coming face to face with yourself through the practice of mindfulness. This meeting can be shocking and for some this shock is damaging.
The discussion turned in this direction recently on a tai chi Facebook page. There were two others, I can't remember who now. Both, reflecting on some point relative to the thread, mentioned this kind of scary/freaky experience. It's nice to think nice things about yourself, but coming face to face with your own roiling uncalled thoughts can shake you up. Some people just can't deal with that. They are the thoughts, what else could they be. I remember in the beginning it made me feel quite ill. Of course the thing about mindfulness is that over time the thoughts become fewer and as you allow them to go on their way without you, they lose their power over you.
Physical work, done with mental focus, seems to bypass this problem. Almost any activity will do. The more immersive the better; if it's the dishes, it's the dishes, if it's a hand form, it's the hand form.
So
Where are you when you practice.
How present am I when I practice.
These movements are our meditation
These principles, our tools
To fully appreciate something, a person has to be present.
To fully appreciate a person, you have to be there with them, in body and in spirit.
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