{"id":2380,"date":"2022-10-14T12:13:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T06:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.ultrahuman.com\/blog\/?p=2380"},"modified":"2023-10-05T15:45:06","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T10:15:06","slug":"7-things-mindful-people-do-differently","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.ultrahuman.com\/blog\/7-things-mindful-people-do-differently\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Things Mindful People Do Differently"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The intention of being more present in our lives is inspiring many people around me. I never would have imagined some of them practising mindfulness but they now sit in daily meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I look at the Seattle Seahawks, and think of our Army Vets or politicians sitting in the \u201cQuiet Caucus\u201d room, I\u2019m filled with a whole lot of hope. When I see an increasing amount of kids and teens being taught mindfulness in their schools, I see possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My wife and I ran a family retreat and long before the deadline, it was sold out hinting at an increasing desire among parents to incorporate this practice into the fold of their families. <\/p>\n\n\n
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Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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People who practice mindfulness tend to have a beginner\u2019s mind. Curiosity leads the mindful person to get back in touch with the wonders of life<\/em>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Doubting the process is not a sign of failing at being mindful. They are opportunities to learn about the hindrances of life and understanding how to overcome adversity<\/em>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
As we practice mindfulness, we come to understand that nothing is permanent and in this way, life becomes increasingly precious. <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
As people start to engage in mindfulness, I\u2019ve noticed a few things that they attempt to do differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Practice Being Curious<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the essential attitudes of mindfulness is the beginner’s mind. This is engaging something as if for the very first time. People who practice mindfulness bring this attitude with them throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they take a shower, they imagine for instance that it was the first time they felt the water, smelled the soap or watched the steam as it shifted and changed before their eyes. Novelty is one of the fastest routes to creating new neural connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even a meal or snack becomes a chance to pause and reflect on how this simple piece of food. They think of all the people from around the world who contributed to putting the ingredients together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This mundane snack becomes a source of gratitude and a moment of recognizing the interconnection between seemingly disparate things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abraham Joshua Heschel said, \u201cLife is routine, and routine is resistance to wonder.\u201d Curiosity leads the mindful person to get back in touch with the wonders of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Forgive & Invite <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Life comes with its obstacles and engaging in a mindful life is not too different. Throughout the process there are times when we get too tired or too busy, find ourselves doubting the process, get caught up in avoiding what\u2019s uncomfortable, or just feel too restless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We come to understand that these are not signs of failing at being mindful. Instead, they are opportunities for learning about the hindrances of life, what gets in our way, and understanding two things: what we need in those moments and the fastest route to begin again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The simple phrase \u201cforgive and invite\u201d can be enormously helpful. When we get caught in an obstacle, we \u201cforgive\u201d ourselves for the time gone by, investigate the obstacle to learn from it, and then \u201cinvite\u201d ourselves to begin again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practicing \u201cforgive and invite\u201d over and over again in life becomes an incredibly strong vehicle for growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Hold Their Emotions Lightly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you start paying attention to any emotion you start to experience that it is an energy that is \u201cin motion.\u201d It has a certain nature of coming and going and in experiencing this we can naturally hold them more lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This enables us to not get so wrapped up in the difficult feelings, but instead hold them with a gentleness and tenderness – maybe even learning from them as we get better at understanding what we need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also hold comfortable emotions lightly as we know that they are not permanent either, but have this same \u2018passing\u2019 nature. With this experience, people who practice mindfulness can be grateful for the good moments and graceful during the more difficult ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Practice Compassion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compassion can be defined as noticing suffering with an inclination to want to help in some way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Repeated practice of intentionally paying attention to ourselves with curious and caring attention sends the implicit message to our brain that we\u2019re worth caring about. As we start to pay attention to difficult emotions we become less afraid of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, they become our teachers, guiding us to get increasingly better at not only understanding what our needs or those of others are but at helping ourselves or another. This act of self-compassion or compassion is the essential healing agent and facilitates connection.<\/p>\n\n\n
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5. Make Peace with Imperfection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of us are keenly aware of our imperfections and this erupts in a barrage of continuous self-judgment. As we start to practice being present, we can\u2019t help but see that we are not the only ones who are imperfect. To be imperfect is to be human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The imperfections that arise become less of a struggle and instead of a source of recognizing the common humanity of people. As Zen priest, Dogen Zenji said, \u201cTo be in harmony with the wholeness of things is to not have anxiety over our imperfections.\u201d Easier said than done, but mindfulness helps us lean in that direction.<\/p>\n\n\n
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