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Is “mindfulness” a spiritual gift? Quoting from this website article…
What is mindfulness? An FAQ
Do you have to be religious to learn mindfulness?
No, certainly not.
In its simplest terms, being mindful is simply paying attention to the matter in hand. If you are writing a blog post, as I am now, just do that. If you are reading this blog post, as you are now, then just do that. When either my attention or yours wanders from our writing or our reading, we simply bring our focus back, and continue. That is being mindful.
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I practice “mindfulness” everyday as much as possible. My charity work, writing, family time, and friendships keep me “in the moment” just like right now… writing this blog post for myself and for you… When my thoughts start to wander, the flashbacks of traumatic events and a painful past return almost instantly. My memory is starting to return little by little from long ago. Although it is painful to think about these events, it is healing. I don’t have panic attacks and nightmares anymore. But the big benefit is getting back in the moment quickly… very deliberately and thoughtfully. Late last night when my wife came to bed, usually several hours after me, I was awake thinking about a time long ago when my big brother tied me up in a tree and left me alone. We siblings were mean to each other often because we lived in a toxic environment at home. But the act of taking a rope and securing me to a tree was traumatic for a little boy at the time. It was not funny! What was different for me is talking about it and not feeling stupid or ashamed of the experience. My wife, Judy, asked me several questions about the event, and we talked for awhile. I went to sleep soundly… I sleep pretty good these days, but know that staying in the moment keeps my mind from wandering back in time to painful events that could be less than a healthy preoccupation.
The article on “mindfulness” included as a reference in my post today is one of the best by Gene for Black Dog Pie… It is well worth the read…
Steve Sparks
Author
Reconciliation: A Son’s Story click to order…
