Turning Towards All Experience

Mindfulness is not about focusing on the positive. It is much more than that. When we practice mindfulness, we are interested in all our experience: the good, the bad and the neutral.

It is also not about trying to change a neutral or negative experience into a positive one, although that may arise by simply taking a different stance on a difficult experience.

We are not chasing any particular experience either. Whatever arises is worthy of our attention. And when nothing arises, experiencing "nothing" and how that feels in the body and our relationship to it is interesting to explore too.

On a personal level, the feeling that life is becoming a little more intense and difficult as my children get older, as I get older, as my parents get older is something that I often find myself resisting against. However, when life begins to feel more intense than normal, it’s important to remember to slow down, to turn toward these bigger feelings, to stay present and see the bigger picture. To take each day at a time.

An alternative to reacting to difficulty and the strong emotions that arise from that, is to “sit with” the strong emotion and observe it as it ebbs and flows in our body. The practice requires that we learn to stay by turning toward the difficulty versus pushing away. Turning towards suggests a willingness to acknowledge what is present (even when we don't like it and wish it weren't there). The more we can meet any difficulty or resistance with presence, compassion and kindness, the easier we can move through it. That is why my Yoga practice is so important to me. It is Yoga that reminds me to connect to my breath, to be mindful of the feelings and sensations in my body and the fluctuations of my mind. Yoga teaches me to stay present and mindful.

Turning towards means being interested in what is arising

There are different ways we can practice mindfulness in turning towards all experiences. One of them is Being With, where we use the breath as a container to hold whatever is arising. The beautiul book written by Anna Black - Mindfulness on the Go - describes in 3 simple steps how we can use the breath as a tool to practice being with and noticing something we don't like.

1. "Noticing a physical sensation, such as an itch or a pain, or maybe the physical manifestation of an emotion like sadness or grief is the first step.

2. Then, tiptoe towards the difficulty by acknowledging that things are feeling difficult, perhaps mentally labelling the situation or emotion: a tight chest, sadness, and so on.

3. Then take your attention to the breath and begin to follow the breath entering and leaving the body. Take time to ground yourself with the breath or connect with the sensation of your feet on the floor."

Also, below is a meditation video that I have found helpful in exploring difficulty things that come up from time to time and the emotions that arise with it.

Remember, it is our resistance to our experience that creates most of our suffering. When we stop tying to make things different, we RELAX.

I hope this will help you.

Namaste

Anaxxx