What Does it Mean to Observe?

When we practice mindfulness, we are simply observing our experience. We are being impartial observers. What does it mean to be an impartial observer? One mindfulness practitioner described it as “observing without getting involved.”

So it’s like that. In mindfulness practice, we simply observe everything in our experience without getting involved, without getting wrapped up in it. Whether it’s thoughts, emotions, sensations, or imagery, we observe them all without any partiality.

Partiality is defined as “an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting.” Mindfulness practice is an opportunity to examine what it would be like to loosen up our tendency to habitually favor some experiences while rejecting other experiences.

When we notice some thoughts or feelings that arise in our consciousness, can we simply observe them without immediately grasping onto them or pushing them away? In other words, can we just observe them without getting involved? Instead of getting involved in them, perhaps we can try letting them go and returning our attention to the breath, to this moment.

The more we practice this, the more freedom we have from the tyranny of thoughts. When we stop getting involved and just watch, just observe, the thoughts and emotions don’t have the power they once do. We are not pulled around by them as much. By letting go of judgment and just noticing what is here, we are being an impartial observer of our experience.

When we are impartial, we might be able to perceive a situation more clearly. Then we might be able to do something that is most appropriate for that situation. That means we can function better as human beings, we can live a life congruent with our values.