Categories
Mindfulness

What Mindfulness is Not

 

 

 

Swan Lake

One thing is certain… mindfulness is not easy, but it is simple. It doesn’t come naturally, that is why it requires much practice. It’s not about relaxing. Mindfulness just means noticing what’s happening, including the things we find difficult. It doesn’t involve listening to panpipes to escape your worries. It isn’t a meditation practice. Mindfulness is a practice for the whole of life. It’s about finding a different way to respond to experience throughout your day.

It isn’t about emptying your mind. Minds produce thoughts, it’s what they’re built for, and your mind keeps on producing them even if you do happen to be meditating. You can become calm and settled by learning to accept your thoughts, making room for them or letting them go. It is always good to remind yourself that thoughts are just that… thoughts. No need to dwell on them, fight with them, act on them or try to avoid them.

It isn’t Buddhist. It is true that mindfulness has it’s roots in the age of Buddha but no-one owns mindfulness. Mindfulness has evolved and has now become the merging of ancient eastern philosophy and the latest western psychology. The beauty of mindfulness is that it is not a religion at all. However, all religions could greatly benefit from having a mindful practice.

It isn’t a technique. Mindfulness isn’t something you do. It’s a way of being. It isn’t a way to fix our problems. Mindfulness can help eliminate depression, anxiety, stress or chronic pain, but not by fixing them. We learn to relate in a new way to the things that trouble us, rather than trying to make them go away. Having a mindful practice is about re-training our minds so that we can cope with whatever comes our way.

It isn’t about doing things slowly. Some mindfulness courses include things like eating a raisin slowly. That does help you to notice details that you may otherwise miss. It also highlights the fact that we often rush or go through the motions while thinking about other things. But that doesn’t mean that you should do everything slowly. A mindful practice is about doing things on purpose, even if they are sometimes at a fast pace.

It isn’t scientific. Research into the effects of mindfulness and its impact on the mind and body are impressive. It is helping to bring mindfulness into the mainstream. Science can measure what mindfulness does, but it can’t measure what it is. Measuring mindfulness is a science; practising it is an art that requires presence, awareness, connection and living in the moment.

It isn’t a fad. Mindfulness is certainly becoming popular, but is it a fad? Our communities are becoming more distracted than ever before. Mindlessness is rampant and there is a growing epidemic of mental suffering. Modern culture seems to be focused on wanting more, getting more and having more. Mindfulness is about being grateful in the moment and is here to stay!

This is from my certificate course Keys to Mindfulness Mentoring. Check it out, especially if you want to make a difference in young peoples lives. Mindfully Yours with Love, Joy and Peace Always! – John Shearer

Categories
Life Choices

Where are you on the Moodometer?

Moodometer

Where are you on the Moodometer?

In 1982, I died in a horrific truck smash and was revived. My world got turned upside down and I spent the next fifteen years mostly in the red zone. I was diagnosed with a mental illness and medical authorities told me that I would never be cured and never work again. Over that time I was given a smorgasbord of medications. At my lowest point, I was given shock treatment in an attempt to help me overcome a suicidal mood. I now call that time ‘my dark years’.

In 1997, I got my miracle when an old friend knocked on my door and told me his story. I hadn’t seen him for seventeen years. He told me how he was driving through town and got a ‘spiritual prompt’ to visit me. I haven’t seen him since but his random act of kindness put me on track into the yellow zone. I became spiritually aware and for the first time in my life, everything made sense to me. Negative and unhelpful thoughts continued but they were easily overcome.

In 2009, Dr Russ Harris trained me as an ACT therapist. Acceptance & Commitment Therapy is a mindfulness based therapy. I started a personal mindfulness practice that led me into the green zone. Negative and unhelpful thoughts lost thier power and have all but disappeared. I am now happily living ‘in the light’. I have both peace of mind and clarity of mind. My memory function and intuition are finely tuned. I am now very grateful for the years, they have helped make me who I am today.

In 2014, after an intensive five year study into the many aspects of mindfulness, I hosted a facebook event called Mindfulness Day. I invited Australians with mental suffering and 4,700 turned up for the month long event. I wrote a blog every day and hundreds of lives were transformed. The event became my book Mindful Actions which was launched on World Mental Health Day, 10th October. The feedback has been amazing! I am very passionate about my purpose which is to help people who are ‘stuck’. Mindfulness is now proven to be an excellent alternative to medication.

Mindfully Yours with Love, Joy & Peace Always! – John

Categories
Mindfulness Day

Mindfulness Day 2015

MDay15

Mindfulness Day is the first Sunday in May. Winter follows May in Australia which is the prime time for depression & suicide. Mindfulness is the best hope for the world to overcome mental suffering and is part of all therapies used in treating ‘mental illness’ today. Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive and present with those around you and with what you are doing.
I will be hosting a free online mindfulness session the first and last Sunday in May at 9:00am (Australian Eastern Standard Time). The sessions will include a relaxing mindfulness exercise which will clearly demonstrate what mindful awareness actually feels like. This is most often enough to get you started on your own mindful practice. I will also post snippets throughout May from Mindfulness Day 2014 which became my transformational book Mindful Actions.
Please email mindfulmad@gmail.com for a link to the session. Mindfully Yours ♥ John
More info: http://mindfullymad.org/ (mindfully Making A Difference) Our vision is world mental health without medication.

Categories
Mindful Actions

Month of Mindfulness

1Storm Will Pass

Earlier this year, I hosted an online facebook event and targeted Australians with mental suffering. It was called Mindfulness Day and launched Mindful May. In Australia, May precedes winter which is prime time for depression and suicide. 4,700 people attended and it was a huge success.

My facebook page has over 730,000 ‘likers’. Why? Because Mindfulness is helping people transform their lives. Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive and present with those around you and with what you are doing. Mindfulness is the best hope for the world to overcome mental suffering and is part of all therapies used in treating ‘mental illness’ today.

I am planning another Month of Mindfulness for the Northern Hemisphere in November. Winter follows November in the Northern Hemisphere so it makes sense to host this encore event. Month of Mindfulness takes you on a transformational journey; learning, exploring and practicing the many aspects of mindfulness – without meditation. It will be a roadmap for practising mindful awareness and will help guide you through the process of self discovery, waking up and connecting fully with your authentic self.

If we work together, this encore event could have an impact on thousands and save lives! Please Join to Raise Awareness & Share to Help Others! We are All One, One with Spirit, One with Life! Mindfully Yours with One Love for All ~ John

Month of Mindfulness: https://www.facebook.com/events/369178533230540/