Mindfulness is a shovel; it can either be used to dig a great hole for yourself or as a means of escaping one. It all comes down to how you use it. Let’s address this here today.
Mindfulness is meant to be an exercise in awareness, both of the self & circumstance. When we meditate or otherwise begin to engage in awareness exercises, we dig deep and become more cognizant of what happens inside our sphere of influence, and it’s this shift in perspective that is something of a godsend for us. ***but only if we use it***
According to a fair bit of research that’s been done on the subject, asking “why?” is not at all useful to our growth. Instead, “why?” keeps us stuck in a loop very much like a hamster running on a wheel. Instead, I would posit that you use this awareness as a tool to discern the “what?”:
“What can I do next to improve my circumstances?”
“What do I do here to improve upon today & tomorrow?”
“What can I do to be more successful?”
“What am I doing to hold myself back here and now?”
These questions matter. Next on the list is “how?”:
“How do I stop doing self-limiting things?”
“How do I better myself and make a more enjoyable life for myself?”
“How do I step beyond my own hindrances?”
“How do I do a better job of attending your needs?”
These are each a far cry from “why is this happening to me?” These are each actionable discussions with end points attached, and each can be used to find a way forward and a way out of the circumstances that trouble us. If we use this mindfulness well & as the tool it’s intended to be, we will make ourselves more productive and grow beyond our limitations. It’s when we stop asking the “why’s” and instead start looking for solutions that things tend to change for the better.
Recognizing this and continually committing yourself to the process of baby steps towards better is how you retake your life. This is at the core of the self-improvement that we hold dear, and over time it becomes a proof that any situation can get better. We hold the keys to that particular lock; it all comes down to appoint the right questions & using our tools effectively.
Blessings,
Chris
Mindfulness is meant to be an exercise in awareness, both of the self & circumstance. When we meditate or otherwise begin to engage in awareness exercises, we dig deep and become more cognizant of what happens inside our sphere of influence, and it’s this shift in perspective that is something of a godsend for us. ***but only if we use it***
According to a fair bit of research that’s been done on the subject, asking “why?” is not at all useful to our growth. Instead, “why?” keeps us stuck in a loop very much like a hamster running on a wheel. Instead, I would posit that you use this awareness as a tool to discern the “what?”:
“What can I do next to improve my circumstances?”
“What do I do here to improve upon today & tomorrow?”
“What can I do to be more successful?”
“What am I doing to hold myself back here and now?”
These questions matter. Next on the list is “how?”:
“How do I stop doing self-limiting things?”
“How do I better myself and make a more enjoyable life for myself?”
“How do I step beyond my own hindrances?”
“How do I do a better job of attending your needs?”
These are each a far cry from “why is this happening to me?” These are each actionable discussions with end points attached, and each can be used to find a way forward and a way out of the circumstances that trouble us. If we use this mindfulness well & as the tool it’s intended to be, we will make ourselves more productive and grow beyond our limitations. It’s when we stop asking the “why’s” and instead start looking for solutions that things tend to change for the better.
Recognizing this and continually committing yourself to the process of baby steps towards better is how you retake your life. This is at the core of the self-improvement that we hold dear, and over time it becomes a proof that any situation can get better. We hold the keys to that particular lock; it all comes down to appoint the right questions & using our tools effectively.
Blessings,
Chris