Mindfulness isn’t new. Mindfulness meditation, the practice of paying attention to the breathe to avoid drowning in thoughts, has been practiced for thousands of years.
Mindfulness can be taught to anyone who is aware of their thoughts, so basically any age except for early childhood. It should be taught in schools, as should being mindful of your emotions, and how to manage them.
Musashi had to be mindful to be the greatest samurai to ever live.
Mindfulness is not complicated, nor is mindfulness outside of yourself. You don’t need anything to be mindful. Like breathing methods, mindfulness is free and will always be free.
You can buy courses and books on mindfulness, but be cautious of gurus, fake experts, and entrepreneurs attempting to profit from something that cannot be sold.
Managing your mind is a skill that can be improved upon constantly.
Your mind is not fixed. A depressed man can become confident with proper thought management. You must understand the mind is never fixed and outside of our control. It is always within our control.
Controlling and strengthening your mind is different than learning, which is adding MORE to the mind. We are taught how to learn, and learn, but rarely are we taught how to manage our minds.
Controlling your mind allows you to have power over the Default State. Do NOT allow your default state to be controlled by your emotions. You need to be in control of the Default State.
What do you need to be mindful?
Books can help teach you the basics of mindfulness through meditation.
To be mindful you must be a practitioner of being mindful. You do not need gurus or courses or retreats; occasionally they can help, but many gurus are valueless frauds who seek compensation more than they want to share knowledge. Not Wim Hoff.
How to play the mindfulness game
Every time you get lost in thought, go back to the breathe. It’s a game you play forever. Whenever you are mind-less, and become aware of it, go back to being mind-full, filled with mind, and empty of thought, except for manual thoughts you summon to aid your progress down the path.
Once you’re aware of the game you never stop playing it. The obligation of preparedness.
Meditation is always available.
I can control my thoughts as necessary; then how can I be troubled? What is outside my mind means nothing to it. Absorb that lesson and your feet stand firm.”
Think of all the small moments you can meditate, even if just for 15 seconds, or a minute. Waiting in line. A red-light. Being on hold while making a call. You can meditate all day long if you are aware of it–if you are playing the game.
Playing the mindfulness game means you are a meditator.
Learn the theory of meditation while becoming a diligent practicer.
Understand that thoughts come with an emotion of varying strength. Uncontrolled thoughts create unwanted, unmanaged, emotions. Usually our uncontrolled thoughts are negative because negativity is what we focus on as a life-saving instinct.
Controlling your thoughts and playing the mindfulness game not only helps control negative feelings, but also maximizes good feelings. Being grounded is fulfilling.
Most people live through their emotions. We want to supplement our animal experience with the logic, the language of what is.
Play the mindfulness game and gain control over your mind and emotion.