One of the ironies of mindfulness is that it's still possible to be forgetful, klutzy, or even distracted while doing our best to pay attention.
Why? We are choosing where to focus and so there are, by necessity, bits of information that aren't getting the full laser treatment. It's simply not possible to be mindful of everything all at once.
That's the beauty of it.
You can shine your mental high beams on, say, fully connecting with every person you talk to today. While being very aware of your interactions with others, you might trip on the edge of the carpet.
Clumsy and mindful may seem like strange bedfellows, but they are intimate nonetheless.
True story: I know a reference librarian who was in the habit of reading while walking. One day, she was walking the two blocks to her house during her lunch break while reading a new book. She was so completely focused on the words she was reading that she tripped on the sidewalk, landing in a heap right there on Ash Street.
Fortunately, this happened in front of the fire station, and the paramedics came to her aid immediately. Unfortunately, in addition to her badly-bruised ego, she broke not one but both arms.
The book she was reading? "Coping With Attention Deficit Disorder"
You can't make up this stuff!
Mindfulness doesn't lend itself to multitasking-- especially when we need to watch where we're going. One-track mindfulness is ideal, but two tracks can work if one of them involves repetitive physical activity. Breathing, washing dishes, eating, walking, sweeping, swimming? Perfect. Tack on another--like reading--and you'll end up stumbling, too.
Even if you've never done a faceplant on concrete, chances are you've developed your own quirky mental editing tricks. We choose our targets based on what we decide at that moment is most meaningful.
Your son might be totally immersed in playing the guitar and forget all about his math homework. Your friend might get caught up in a woodworking project and forget to call you back. You might get so absorbed in a conversation with someone at the grocery store that you forget to buy the bread that was the reason for your trip.
Mindfulness helps us pay attention, but it doesn't make us perfect. And that's perfect! It shows us our imperfections while helping us become less judgmental about them. A hefty sense of humor helps.
Use mindfulness to help you "step back" before tripping--on the stories in your head, the swirl of emotions you feel, and the chaos of your life. Develop the mental agility to step back, step into and step out of your chosen focus.
You might remain klutzy. You may forget to buy bread. But you won't end up tripping over what matters most.
About The Author
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse offering specialized mindfulness training in Portland, Oregon. Trained in conflict resolution, she uses her 25-year meditation practice and plenty of humor to teach real-world techniques for paying attention to what matters most. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, visit http://www.MindMasseuse.com.
That one guy at work that always has to be... Read More
I was never much of an athlete growing up. Notoriously... Read More
If you are anything like me, you may have noticed... Read More
As a healthy business owner or independent professional, how do... Read More
Has it ever occurred to you how much you are... Read More
No one gets through life without being hurt by another... Read More
WARNING! If you want to have a fantastic life, never... Read More
Have you ever found yourself in a hurry to leave... Read More
1. Get a life purpose statement.A well thought out life... Read More
Our bodies are made of pure energy. With Quantum physics... Read More
Terms like Postpartum, Post Traumatic and Post Gulf War are... Read More
My wife says I have the strangest taste in movies.... Read More
What does this word really mean anyway? According to Webster's... Read More
Knowing more about who you are will give you the... Read More
In business, individuals often secure the services of a success... Read More
We've all experienced the same thing at important crossroads in... Read More
We have all heard the expression, "Where your heart is?,... Read More
Anybody who has visited my website at Motivation & Self... Read More
? Have you been working long hours? ? Have... Read More
I don't know why, but it seems we trip over... Read More
Organizations are finally creating cultures that support a work and... Read More
I wrote you about four years ago, when my eight... Read More
In the movie, "The Gladiator," Emperor Commodus' rose to power... Read More
None of us like to think of ourselves as victims.... Read More
Have you ever thought about what really creates self-esteem? Having... Read More
You got busy at work, got busy in your marriage,... Read More
I have a few questions for you ---What if we... Read More
People have a difficult time letting go of the past... Read More
Every human feels anxiety on occasion; it is a part... Read More
When a conversation is not working out there is the... Read More
I have one magical thought, lets see it more closely.... Read More
In today's fast paced world, we are often confronted with... Read More
Feeling disappointed? It's time to float.The time-honored approach to disappointment... Read More
If you've been around the Internet for more than two... Read More
I always do a lot of thinking about good intentions... Read More
With the growing number of expert business people, consultants and... Read More
When you feel self-conscious it means you are putting too... Read More
A few months back I had a disturbing dream. In... Read More
Sound familiar? If you want to manage anger, the only... Read More
I heard a story recently, and wanted to share it... Read More
When was the last time you did some dedicated physical... Read More
One of the three basic roles of leadership is the... Read More
If you are anything like me, you may have noticed... Read More
I thought it might be worth visiting some email etiquette... Read More
For a self help book to work, we have to... Read More
An Age-Old QuestionSearching for more meaning in our lives has... Read More
When we see people do things we cannot do, or... Read More
Over the years I've worked with very many coaches and... Read More
Being a lifelong student, I am regularly attending seminars etc.... Read More
1. Get a life purpose statement.A well thought out life... Read More
He was just a teenager, but he was already displaying... Read More
First of all, criticalness breaks up more relationships, than anything... Read More
Have you ever found yourself in a hurry to leave... Read More
Athletes the world over have coaches. Yet, workers whose very... Read More
Being self-content means accepting and acknowledging who you are at... Read More
Laughter may or may not be a shock, relieved, but... Read More
Imagine stepping into the gym for the first time in... Read More
Having a mentor can mean the difference between success and... Read More
We live in a world of rapid change and uncertainty.... Read More
A journey by a web-footed gull through a sea of... Read More
Has it ever occurred to you how much you are... Read More
In principle, we don't want to give up coaching employees.... Read More
The battle at Gettysburg is one of the most notable... Read More
How many times have you agreed to do something that... Read More
I'm calling you out. Issuing a Challenge. Relax, It's not... Read More
Ever since the Internet bubble and the 9/11 terrorist attacks,... Read More
Coaching |