Adrenaline Junkies as Mindfulness Seekers
Adrenaline moments.... why do humans loooove adrenaline? Skydiving, racing cars or horses, motorcycle challenges, skiing.... in fact, sports in general. Being a soldier in war. Stealing or engaging in crime..... even trying to walk up the stairs when you are drunk. Crises moments at work including high speed multi-tasking. Those moments of high focused concentration, where one is fully engaged. In these moments you feel your heartbeat, time slows down yet consumes us, split decisions command our undivided attention. One is no longer fretting about paying bills, or if we are fat or likeable. Arguing, creating drama or problems to solve also fully engage us.... for the moment. All ways to be Mindful.....of course there are other choices!
When we are Mindful, we are fully engaged in the present, just like we are when we are in physically challenging or dangerous situations or scenarios. There is a part of being human that not only enjoys, but craves the challenge but also pleasure of being fully present, of being Mindful. It makes one wonder if in fact the human brain, psyche, even immune system isn't built for Mindful focus. Like a cheetah focusing in on the hunt.
There are other kinds of fully engaged Mindful..... orgasm, stretching in the sun like a cat, gardening, washing dishes. In fact, Mindful is a preference to humans (and many other species... if not all).... but how we choose to implement can make a huge difference. Stop picking arguments and become Mindful of how your partner's lips are moving, the moisture on his/her face, the feeling of energy underneath the words. Stop putting your life in danger when you are not in shape to handle it and instead challenge your Self through meditation, yoga, fire breathing. Re-consider using alcohol or weed as a crutch to become Mindful and see if instead you can hear the silence, feel the wind move, notice the exquisite formation of an orange... before you peel and eat it.
We spent years developing poor or bad ways to mock up Mindfulness. Notice how much adrenaline you seem to need. Create Mindfulness focus events to slowly ease out of some of your other choices. It will take a few years to develop new habits. Don't give up. New habits feel hard at first, but then they become new... habits. Easy to do. A way of life. Meditation, Tai Chi, Chi Quong, Yoga..... breathing consciously. Get off your phone and slowly eat an apple. Stop, look, listen. Work on your Self, not controlling others. Re-learn to laugh and be silly. Hang with children and animals, let them teach you. Seriously spend some time learning how to laugh, and spend some hours a week practicing laughing. No kidding! Don't tell me you haven't forgotten.
People are always shocked how enjoyable and peaceful (yet fun and challenging still) life becomes when these new habits start to take over. . You are worth the effort. You put in the effort to create the bad habits....don't forget that. Perhaps no one ever loved you enough, or knew enough, to teach you another way to live.
Journey on.
When we are Mindful, we are fully engaged in the present, just like we are when we are in physically challenging or dangerous situations or scenarios. There is a part of being human that not only enjoys, but craves the challenge but also pleasure of being fully present, of being Mindful. It makes one wonder if in fact the human brain, psyche, even immune system isn't built for Mindful focus. Like a cheetah focusing in on the hunt.
There are other kinds of fully engaged Mindful..... orgasm, stretching in the sun like a cat, gardening, washing dishes. In fact, Mindful is a preference to humans (and many other species... if not all).... but how we choose to implement can make a huge difference. Stop picking arguments and become Mindful of how your partner's lips are moving, the moisture on his/her face, the feeling of energy underneath the words. Stop putting your life in danger when you are not in shape to handle it and instead challenge your Self through meditation, yoga, fire breathing. Re-consider using alcohol or weed as a crutch to become Mindful and see if instead you can hear the silence, feel the wind move, notice the exquisite formation of an orange... before you peel and eat it.
We spent years developing poor or bad ways to mock up Mindfulness. Notice how much adrenaline you seem to need. Create Mindfulness focus events to slowly ease out of some of your other choices. It will take a few years to develop new habits. Don't give up. New habits feel hard at first, but then they become new... habits. Easy to do. A way of life. Meditation, Tai Chi, Chi Quong, Yoga..... breathing consciously. Get off your phone and slowly eat an apple. Stop, look, listen. Work on your Self, not controlling others. Re-learn to laugh and be silly. Hang with children and animals, let them teach you. Seriously spend some time learning how to laugh, and spend some hours a week practicing laughing. No kidding! Don't tell me you haven't forgotten.
People are always shocked how enjoyable and peaceful (yet fun and challenging still) life becomes when these new habits start to take over. . You are worth the effort. You put in the effort to create the bad habits....don't forget that. Perhaps no one ever loved you enough, or knew enough, to teach you another way to live.
Journey on.
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