Equation of Mindfulness
Cultivating more mindfulness is something many of us strive for. Sometimes it fits and sometimes things can feel a little muddy. Hopefully this little tidbit can help you along in your practice.
There are two major components to the equation of mindfulness: Applied Awareness + Compassion
Let’s start with some definitions...
Awareness- “seeing what is”
Compassion- “Kindness, empathy, generosity, and acceptance… with strands of courage, tolerance, and equanimity equally woven. Above all, compassion is the capacity to open to the reality of suffering and to aspire to it’s healing.” - Sharon Salzberg
Mindfulness is awareness of Right Now, as is, untangled from expectations from the past or future. Often times in meditation we find our minds begin to wander. When it does, we have options: criticize ourselves for getting distracted or respond with compassion. When we respond with compassion we can let the thoughts flow by without judgment. In doing so we can more easily accept things as they are. Compassion is an important component of mindfulness because it can help moderate. In many ways, compassion itself is a form of mindfulness: relaxing into the now without judgment.
I’ll leave you with a few questions to consider as you approach mindfulness:
Why do you think compassion is so important to the equation of mindfulness?
What does it feel like when you are mindful? Mindless? Why is it important that we recognize each?
Stay curious and kind,
Blake
P.S. I just uploaded new meditations! Check them out here