IN A WORD: Living the Upbeat Life


Q: I’ve decided to take a meditation class, maybe study mindfulness, but am not sure what the difference is? Or the benefits? Thanks, E. M., SRs


MINDFULNESS


A: I’ve come to regard ‘medi- tation’ as any practice entered into for the purpose of harmonizing Body and Mind, and in the Spirit of compassion- ate,


soulful living.


‘Mindfulness’ is the artful science of pay- ing attention to what is happening in my expe- rience, right here and now. It can be either a spiritual meditation practice,


or secular


form of therapeutic stress re- duction. But anything you are doing works best when your whole self, your presence, is brought to it. And both medi- tation and mindfulness tech-


ample? Yesterday morning, I made mindful,


notes


to take filtered water to work --but then I got into the car without my bottle. I was dis-


How about an ex- mental


by Marcia Singer ~www.lovearts.info


niques cultivate ‘presence,’ awareness, and usually involve conscious breathing, exercises. Breath anchors us to Being Here Now. Both sacred and secular interests are served via conscious breathing, and a re- laxed alertness.


tracted by a myriad thoughts about other things --can you relate?! Fortunately, when I re- turned my focus to where I was at the moment, starting up the car, I remembered, “Water!” Mindfulness and mindlessness –both are natural mind states. When you purposely pay attention to –bear witness to – your mental states, you’re doing mindfulness –and perhaps meditation as well, if your motiva- tion is being a better hu- man being.


I might even morning ‘mindful


develop the discipline of spending 5 minutes be- fore leaving for work, just being present for the day ahead and make this my mediation’


practice. And since ‘energy flows where attention goes’ – I can anticipate a sweeter, more upbeat day ahead.


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