Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I've been "practicing" mindfulness for years. ("Practicing" as in, trying to get better at it, not as in doing it regularly.)
Yes, I think of it as gently placing the needle back in the groove.
For young people that means a black thing, a vinyl recording that spins, that has grooves.
Yes, I think of it as gently placing the needle back in the groove.
For young people that means a black thing, a vinyl recording that spins, that has grooves.
I've been "practicing" mindfulness for years. ("Practicing" as in, trying to get better at it, not as in doing it regularly.) I think even in this thread, it's not described as quite what I've learned it to be.
It's not appreciating the moment or taking stock. Being grateful for what we have and taking it in is wonderful, of course. But I understand mindfulness to be about not letting your thoughts take you away from the present moment. It doesn't necessarily have to be a good moment.
Probably not everyone needs this exercise and if that's you, I'm genuinely envious. Someone like me? I continually have a reel going in the back of my mind thinking about the past or the future - what if, remember when, I can't wait.... I am learning to retrain my thinking so that I can focus my thoughts more sharply on the present instead of constantly wandering. The thump of my mug as I place it on the table next to me. The light weight of my glasses across my nose. The sounds of my husband walking upstairs. I may or may not be grateful for these things. What I am, though, is aware. This moment has not been wasted on something that no longer exists or something that may never come to be.
It's not an idea that only the present counts. It's the idea that the present is all we have. But it all counts.
It appears the only comments I've received so far are the ones that focus on considerations to which I've raised no objections. I appreciate the value some may find in occasional meditation, mindfulness, yoga etc. I've pointed out in my first post that I see no harm in these exercises. It is the larger aspect of this worldview that I find toxic. And since OP didn't specify which one (or if both) were the focus of this thread (though I suspect it's both in light of the stress given to overall happiness and relief of suffering), I chose to look at a larger picture, and to that I am yet to see an objection.
If other people’s suffering is what worries you, nothing stops you from going out there, putting your body to work, and do what you can to lessen their burden. While at it you can live in the present.
No, this is not the point.
The point is, those people who ARE suffering (and they are in BILLIONS) can only take a deep sigh at the crap suggestion/advice/idea posted in the OP.
The OP seems to think the religious believe brings all different kinds of worry in one’s life - and that’s the only worry there is out there. And once people leave religious faith, it will make them all worry free from all past and future worrioes - and they will happily live in the present.
And yes, I try to do whatever I can within my limits to lessen the burden of the needy people.
No, this is not the point.
The point is, those people who ARE suffering (and they are in BILLIONS) can only take a deep sigh at the crap suggestion/advice/idea posted in the OP.
The OP seems to think the religious believe brings all different kinds of worry in one’s life - and that’s the only worry there is out there. And once people leave religious faith, it will make them all worry free from all past and future worrioes - and they will happily live in the present.
And yes, I try to do whatever I can within my limits to lessen the burden of the needy people.
Odd that you should Interpret the OP in that light. I took it as almost religious in proposing an inner peace through the prayerful mind. Just that it cuts the crap and goes straight to meditation -mindfulness. I rather think that you have let your own prejudices against secularism run wild and let them obscure what the OP was actually saying.
It seems to show how the religious believer can't see things straight but always through some religiously -distorted optical glass.
Outside of a quick relaxation exercise, this is quite possibly one of the most damaging ideas out there, as far as I'm concerned.
Ignoring the past, means we ignore the lessons that could significantly improve our lives. Ignoring the future means, we disregard the consequences of our actions.
What you are today is shaped by your actions in the past, but you cannot go back and change them today. You can only deal with who you are today, and only the choices you make today, be it your actions, your thoughts, or the attitude you bring to them. I don’t know what other possibility anybody has.
No, this is not the point.
The point is, those people who ARE suffering (and they are in BILLIONS) can only take a deep sigh at the crap suggestion/advice/idea posted in the OP. The OP seems to think the religious believe brings all different kinds of worry in one’s life - and that’s the only worry there is out there. And once people leave religious faith, it will make them all worry free from all past and future worrioes - and they will happily live in the present.
And yes, I try to do whatever I can within my limits to lessen the burden of the needy people.
What makes you so ANGRY?
Think about that first. Then read the post and carefully underline all the places it mentions religion. How did you see all that is bolded into it? How did that happen, why did you do that?
I don't know about you, normstad, but I'm able to understand things and still find certain ideas damaging.
There is a massive difference between savouring a moment, appreciating little things, and taking stock of the present and embracing a wholesale idea that only the present counts. Besides, OP didn't qualify whether they consider this just a useful exercise every now and then or a recommended outlook on life. It is the latter that I find so utterly appalling.
I don't see how the concept is "utterly appalling".
I've been "practicing" mindfulness for years. ("Practicing" as in, trying to get better at it, not as in doing it regularly.) I think even in this thread, it's not described as quite what I've learned it to be.
It's not appreciating the moment or taking stock. Being grateful for what we have and taking it in is wonderful, of course. But I understand mindfulness to be about not letting your thoughts take you away from the present moment. It doesn't necessarily have to be a good moment.
Probably not everyone needs this exercise and if that's you, I'm genuinely envious. Someone like me? I continually have a reel going in the back of my mind thinking about the past or the future - what if, remember when, I can't wait.... I am learning to retrain my thinking so that I can focus my thoughts more sharply on the present instead of constantly wandering. The thump of my mug as I place it on the table next to me. The light weight of my glasses across my nose. The sounds of my husband walking upstairs. I may or may not be grateful for these things. What I am, though, is aware. This moment has not been wasted on something that no longer exists or something that may never come to be.
It's not an idea that only the present counts. It's the idea that the present is all we have. But it all counts.
One of the biggest blocks to mindfulness is something we have been encouraged to develop in recent decades -- multi-tasking.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
That's a good simile.
