In this month's
blog, "
You Can't Stop the Waves but You Can Learn to Surf", I explore one of the foundation elements of mindfulness. There is a common misperception that mindfulness is meant to "clear the mind" or "eliminate the bad thoughts." Its possible this may be a side effect of consistent practice, however the true opportunity with mindfulness is to be with our busy minds, which are operating as designed - allowing our experience and thoughtfully responding to it instead of habitually reacting to it.
As such, there may be a
seeming paradox in our practice. When presenting at a recent industry conference, a participant insisted that we close the door as we meditated. I suggested instead that we leave the door open and allow these distractions to be the raw material for returning our attention to our bodies through the practice of mindfulness.
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