The Super-Power of Mindfulness - 4

Intro to Super-Power of Mindfulness series: https://lnkd.in/ep4mCEm8

Mindfulness is essentially paying attention to the present moment with kindness, curiosity, and non-judgment.

But our attention is often full of biases – our judgmental attention, based in our ego, is like seeing through lenses that have shaped our own experiences of reality. If a person is sharing a story with us, our brain right away starts judging the speaker, their situation. and focuses on trying to resolve their problems. --- Our internal conversations are also judgmental. We are not our own disinterested observers.

On the other hand, non-judgmental attention puts the speaker and the listener on the same page - to find creative & innovative solutions together. --- Our non-judgmental internal conversation puts us on a plane of equilibrium and mental well-being.

When we are hurt, physically or emotionally, pain is inevitable. HOWEVER, with nonjudgmental attention, we realize that suffering is optional. For example, if one loses a job, there is definitely pain and hurt. But non-judgmental focus helps us analyze the situation and focus on finding creative solutions. Judgmental internal dialogue (“Why did this happen to me?” “Those people were horrible.” “I did not deserve this.” Etc. etc.) keeps the focus on the hurting ego and just keeps creating unproductive suffering.

Each of us has a unique origin story- with a series of moments that have shaped us. Perhaps a great loss, perhaps racist abuse or a traumatic incident like an assault or a disaster. These are the struggles with anxiety that give rise to the voice of the Inner Critic and his judgmental attention. A superhero like the Black Widow has her origin story of challenges, and when her Inner Critic shows up, she brings her Compassionate Hero into the conversation, the one who is a nonjudgmental listener. Allow your hero to encourage you to move in directions that uplift you.

Non-judgmental attention is the only way to create a safe place within ourselves and a safe place for our conversations with others. The creation of safe space through non-judgmental attention has to be something WE ALL PRACTICE daily.