In mindfulness practice, we are always bringing our attention to our breath. In this practice of returning to the present moment, the breath is a helpful anchor, because it is always here. It is already here. We don’t have to do anything special with our breath. We don’t have to do anything special to ourContinue reading “What is Mindfulness of Breath?”
Tag Archives: let go
What Can Mindfulness Add to My Life?
In our busy lives, we have to prioritize our time so that we don’t spread ourselves too thin over the many tasks and responsibilities that seem to keep piling up. So it’s understandable to ask, when we consider devoting time to an activity, what this pursuit will add to our life. Given the commitment ofContinue reading “What Can Mindfulness Add to My Life?”
What Happens If I Don’t Let Go?
Long time ago, according to the legend, people used to catch monkeys by using a “monkey trap.” This monkey trap is created by putting a banana inside a very heavy jar with a narrow opening that is just large enough for the monkey to slip its hand in. Once the monkey puts its hand inContinue reading “What Happens If I Don’t Let Go?”
What Are You Carrying?
When we come to meditation, we might be carrying a lot of things with us. There are lots of things swirling around in our mind: A concern we are worrying about, what someone said to us, an upcoming vacation, the list goes on and on. Mindfulness meditation is an opportunity to “put it all down.”Continue reading “What Are You Carrying?”
How Do I Work with Situations I Can’t Control?
There is probably nothing more stressful and scary than the feeling of not having control. Most of us have reacted in some way (anger, sadness, anxiety) when we felt that we did not have control over a situation, others, and/or ourselves. The need for control is so deeply conditioned within us that we may notContinue reading “How Do I Work with Situations I Can’t Control?”
How Do I Find Peace?
I’ve heard many people say that they want to learn mindfulness meditation because they want to have some peace in their lives. How do we find peace, and what does mindfulness have to do with peace? Peace comes from the Latin word “pax” which means “tranquility, absence of war.” Our lives can be very busyContinue reading “How Do I Find Peace?”
How Do I Get a Good Feeling During Mindfulness Meditation?
There’s nothing wrong with wanting good feelings. There’s nothing wrong with not wanting bad feelings. It’s very human! Most of us come to something like mindfulness meditation because we want to feel more calm, relaxed, and compassionate. We want more of those good feelings! We might also want to feel less of those bad feelingsContinue reading “How Do I Get a Good Feeling During Mindfulness Meditation?”
What is the Present?
In mindfulness practice, we are always talking about paying attention to the present moment, being in the present, and returning to the present. The present moment is such a central component of mindfulness practice. But what is the present, really? The present is simply what is happening right now. It is what you are doingContinue reading “What is the Present?”
How Do I Calm Down My Wandering Mind?
Being distracted and unfocused during meditation is very common. Having a wandering mind during meditation is very common. It doesn’t mean that you are doing it wrong, or that you are “not cut out for mindfulness meditation.” It’s OK that many thoughts come up and distract us during meditation. The mindfulness technique is to noticeContinue reading “How Do I Calm Down My Wandering Mind?”
How Do I Work with Strong Emotions?
Mindfulness practice is simply watching everything appear and disappear in this moment. Emotions, like everything else, appear and disappear on their own. With mindfulness training, we can just watch them come and go, without getting pulled in different directions. Emotions become difficult and create suffering when they are not able to come and go naturally,Continue reading “How Do I Work with Strong Emotions?”
Mindfulness FAQ 