A Case for Being Mindful!

Hello, Namaste and Shalom!

In my last article, I explained in brief through an example of how mindful we can be when learning to ride a bicycle.  I also mentioned that being mindful is paying attention, being aware and remembering to do it repeatedly. Today, I would like to make the case of being mindful.

In the last decade or more we have lived through an information economy.  Over a period of time the convergence of the computer, net and mobile phones has led to a seamless connectivity of information and entertainment.  Today, we are connected to more devices and social media applications but our levels of focus and awareness have dwindled. Our personal, family, work… lives are more distracted than fulfilling due to the constant bombardment of information and entertainment that keeps giving us the wrong notion that everything is important and can make us happy.  We are less focused and more distracted. We have become less happy beings and more stressed. We are not singularly able to focus on an activity as our mind tends to be focused on more than one thing at a time. .We even have the false notion that we can multi-task. We have become addicted to the rush of dopamine (feel good), when we hear the ping and sense the vibrations of our mobile devices.  From being a boon, information technology has become a bane to society.

I know you may say that I have painted a grim image. Since you are reading this article, let me ask you a question.  How many times did your attention shift, as you were reading this article? Were you consciously aware of the shift in focus? What was your response when you realised that your focus had shifted.

Now in most cases if you are not mindful, your focus would have shifted and when you realised, you may have started to berate, chastised or scold yourself.  That apart, think of the number of times in the day you aren't focused or your physically present in one place, but your mind is on a totally different journey.  You miss important parts of your life due to this shift in focus which keeps on moving. It seems like your mind has a mind of its own.

Think of those moments in your life when you aren't able to bring your attention to, what needs to be done, whether it's being creative, learning, listening, working...  Here again you may berate yourself.

Lets say that you are in a meeting. You start with paying attention, and as the meeting progresses your mind starts to shift focus.  Suddenly in the distance you hear your name being called and your attention is back to the meeting. You are asked a question, but since your attention was far away you aren't able to give a reply. You answer that you need more time to think. Everyone's attention shifts to another person.  You breathe a sigh of relief cursing yourself for your lack of attention.

There are moments in life when you are facing a situation that may seem to be difficult to overcome. Due to these thoughts you have certain feelings that are associated with it and they get manifested into your behaviour.  The more you think about this situation as difficult, painful, stressful..., more feelings associated with them arise. You begin to believe your thoughts to be real which increase feelings like fear, anxiety, anger, unease....

So if you look at the above scenarios, you notice being swayed by the thoughts and feelings that arise in your mind, believing them to be reality.  If you would be mindful about those moments, you would be able to see how your mind functions and be able to have an appropriate response. But why just be mindful only at these moments. Practicing it with compassion and being kind to yourself can help you lead a more aware, focused and fruitful life.