The 7 Pillars of Mindfulness

7 Attitudes of Mindfulness

Non-judgmental 

Our minds are always evaluating us and our surroundings and comparing us and our situations to others and where we wish to be. This leaves us always wanting what we don’t have and never satisfied or happy.

Patience: 

The more we struggle and resist what is right now, the more we struggle or force things to happen even when they’re beyond our control helps keep us stuck, unhappy and dissatisfied. Learning patience allows us to let things happen in their own time, not our time.

Letting go:  

Accepting our current experience, what is right now is key. Frequently living in the past or the future, immersed in thoughts, past hurts, or trauma, stops us from living in the present and enjoying life. Letting go helps us release living in the past or future and surrender to what is right no,w and learn and grow and gives us freedom to live more fully in the present.

Trust: 

Many people feel dissatisfied with where they are, impatient and trapped in judgment, comparing themselves to others or stuck in unhealthy thought patterns and habits. Learning to build trust allows us the freedom to believe in ourselves, helps us accept and trust the process of life, and trust our current experiences.  Develop trust and expectancy that things always work out in the end, and focus on what you want to achieve. Instead of trying to control our experience with expectations of how and what it should be.

Generosity: 

Practice being kind to yourself, by looking after ourselves, our surroundings and providing full attention to ourselves and our surroundings. This allows us to feel better internally and extend this generosity to others.

Acceptance:

Human beings are always judging and analysing, which makes acceptance difficult.   Mindfulness provides the opportunity for acceptance of difficult or challenging experiences and circumstances without judging them or clinging to them. Allowing us to open to thoughts and feelings by observing them rather than thinking about what is happening or getting hooked into them.

By becoming the observer, we learn not to hook into unpleasant thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions.  It also helps us with self-acceptance of one’s imperfections, mistakes and focusing on our strengths rather than weaknesses. We become the observer rather than thinking about what is happening or what may happen.

Beginner’s Mind: 

Adopting a childlike mind allows us to have childlike curiosity and become interested in life, which helps us view things as new, interesting and exciting.

For more information and techniques like this, check out my book Stronger, You Can Overcome and Bounce Back from Adversity, available globally online 

https://www.amazon.com.au/STRONGER-Overcome-Bounce-Adversity-WITHIN/dp/1452530203

If you are struggling or feeling overwhelmed and want some help in learning more about how practising mindfulness can help you in your life, along with other evidence-based techniques.