The search for truth, it seems like an endless journey doesn’t it? When it comes to the truth about mindfulness, however, the search ends here. Many people have many different opinions and perceptions about mindfulness, that most often are commonly based on misunderstandings of what mindfulness is, and isn't, about. We, as humans, tend to have this unhelpful tendency of rejecting the things we do not understand; mindfulness being one of these things.
What I intend to do for this week’s blog, is break down a few myths surrounding the practice of mindfulness so that we can become better acquainted with the idea and better understand the beautiful gifts it offers.
Myth busting time!
MYTH 1) Isn’t mindfulness simply thinking positively?
The power of positive thinking is remarkable! Having a positive attitude in and about life can bring much happiness to our lives. Not only is the impact felt biologically in our brains (when you think about things that make you happy, your brain actually releases endorphins which help you feel happy), we also feel happier in life in general through the choices we make, or in the way we interact with others.
Having a positive outlook in life allows us to have greater control over the outcomes that affect us. Happy people find good in the world and when we actively strive to find good in this crazy world, we tend to find it. When we decide to be happy and optimistic, we are choosing to look on the bright side of things, even when things feel bad. So yes, positive thinking is good! But it is not mindfulness.
When we practice mindfulness, we are practising being with all mind states – the good, the bad and the neutral. It is a tool we adopt to help us see beyond our current state, to see the value is accepting things for what they are in the moment and to learn from and accept the lessons in life we are facing; especially our failures. Mindfulness is about being in the now, the current moment, and when you combine it with positive thinking, it can lead to a powerful change in our perceptions about our lives.
MYTH 2) Mindfulness is a quick fix to short-term problems!
Mindfulness is a lifelong journey that requires a conscious effort from the one who chooses to gain from it. I read somewhere that mindfulness is about becoming more human and finding ways to make life easier and happier. There is truth in that statement because when we commit to living in the moment, getting to know ourselves on a more intimate level, and to noticing our reactions to the world around us, we begin to explore a new level of maturity within us.
Mindfulness isn’t about controlling our feelings, fixing ourselves or even getting rid of these so-called “bad” feelings, rather, it is about acknowledging and becoming more comfortable with them. It takes discipline to practice mindfulness, and time to unlearn the patterns we’ve adopted and depended on our whole lives. When we make conscious efforts to being more mindful in life, we commit to achieving inner growth and maturity, for which there is no “quick fix”. It truly is a life-long process; and one with great rewards if exercised with patience and trust.
MYTH 3) Mindfulness will cure everything!
Mindfulness is not meant to solve all of life’s problems. There is no such thing. We are all living life purposely, in some shape, way or form. We all have a journey in this life, filled with bumps in the road (some bigger than others), which are intended to teach us life lessons about ourselves. Everyone has a story to tell, and we all go through difficult times in our lives. Like it or not, it is these experiences which help us grow, change, and make us stronger.
Mindfulness won’t make these stresses disappear, but when practiced regularly, it can help change the way we relate to these awkward moments in life. When we live mindfully, we allow ourselves to live in the present moment, accept our painful thoughts, feelings and physical sensations and learn to deal with and relate to them differently. Living mindfully allows us to change the narrative of these experiences and opens up our minds to accept them as learning opportunities for growth. Easier said than done, agreed, but with practice a simple shift in perspective can really help to ease the stress of life…
MYTH 4) Is mindfulness a religion?
While it is true that the roots of mindfulness are founded on the Buddhist practices and ancient Hebrew Scriptures, it is not a religion. Mindfulness is a practice that has been adopted by people for thousands of years. It works! Otherwise, why would this ancient tradition continue to be practiced and taught in society today?!
We live in a very fast-paced, mindless and high stressed society with many layers of complexities, which directly or indirectly influence the quality of life we experience; be it in the injustices some feel, or the privileges some have over others or simply the toxic environments we find ourselves in. We can only benefit from practicing mindfulness, if for nothing else, to better cope with life’s challenges.
MYTH 5) Mindfulness only teaches you to relax
Mindfulness isn’t just about meditating. While meditating plays a role in mindfulness, it is only one part. We might achieve relaxation through meditation, but then, we might not. Mindfulness encourages us to seek and achieve a calm state of mind, but it also includes noticing how we are experiencing in the moment, outside of meditation.
By “being” in the moment, understanding our feelings and thoughts in that moment, we can achieve a sense of calmness. Mindfulness encourages us to be honest with ourselves and with our intentions. In practicing mindfulness, we are learning to see our thoughts as passing mental events and responding to them (or interpreting them) with greater accuracy. This can be done through meditation or through conscious effort in our daily interactions with ourselves and with others. Either way, a natural bi-product is calmness.
MYTH 6) I meditate often, isn’t that enough?
If meditation is enough for you, then yes, it is enough. But mindfulness is more than simply meditating. Mindfulness is like a muscle, the more exercise it, the stronger it gets. It is better to incorporate mindfulness part of our everyday life because being mindful allows us to better focus and understand our emotions, thoughts and behaviours (or reactions) which in turn allows us to accept the things and situations we are unable to control.
MYTH 7) I am not “spiritual” enough to practice mindfulness.
The truth is, mindfulness is a subjective personal experience, so what might work for one person, might not work for another. But one thing is for sure, spirituality is not a prerequisite to mindfulness. Sure, one can be spiritual to practice mindfulness, but we can all benefit from the effects on mindfulness, spiritual or not. Practising mindfulness is a life-long journey that provides endless opportunities for individual growth.
In reality, practicing mindfulness does not require a complete overhaul of our lives. That is what I find amazing about mindfulness. Definitely, a shift in attitude (see my blog post “Do You Have the Right Attitude”) is necessary though. If you are willing to do a bit of internal work, you can reap major benefits. Simple daily tasks are all that is required to becoming more mindful.
Join me in this journey! Feel free to leave a message if this resonates with you!
Perfectly Imperfect,
Stephanie
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