How do you live your life? Is it easy to slip into an automatic and unconscious state, shifting between one thing and another, repeating day after day? Body and mind becoming so close but so far apart?
Illustrator: Wing Leung | Copyright ©2020
Automatic pilot
"You've been talking to someone and realized you didn't hear what they said... ... Missed it."
"You've been on a long holiday and thought you'd have a nice break, but somehow you're even "busier" than usual... and you miss it."
"I was so busy taking pictures of tourist spots that I ignored the environment, smells, and sounds... I missed it."
Hate the feeling of "missing it again"?
Where is your mind at this moment? Is it also equipped with the automatic pilot mode?
The autopilot of the mind is similar to an airplane's autopilot in that it can fly to its destination automatically even if it is not operated attentively. What would happen if our minds had different destinations, but all operated in autopilot modes?
I recently did an exercise with my students, asking them to look back at the past 5 weeks in a meditative way. As a result, we were surprised at how rich, exciting, and busy these weeks have been... everything has never been interrupted. It turned out that we were all "busy" living, but we didn't know how to live.
Awareness
The primary idea of mindfulness practice is not to stay on the cushion all day without moving, without anything in your mind, without nothing. It is about focusing on the present moment, not on the past, not on the future, but on what is happening in the present moment, your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and surroundings...
There is no "right" or "wrong" way to focus, whether you are relaxed, happy, angry, sad, disorganized... just be aware of it, accept it, and focus and be aware of the moment as the art of living.
Being present seems like a Buddhist word. However, being present means being here and now, which is not unique to Buddhism. Awareness of the present moment is a non-judgmental way of looking at and accepting yourself as you are in the present moment.
Please don't make mindfulness a problematic or time-consuming exercise; it only takes a few minutes for your mind to be attuned.
If you are tired of losing your connection to yourself, bring your mind back to the present moment...
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Disclaimer: This blog is not intended as a substitute for the psychological therapy of clinicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician and psychologist in matters relating to his/her health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.