I’ve been talking with clients about mindfulness and trying to continually practice it in my own life for years now. It’s one of the most transformative and effective tools I’ve got; to the extent that I don’t even feel like “tool” is an appropriate word to describe its place in my life and work. It would probably be more accurately referred to as the platform upon which dozens of tools become more readily available. Most people think of mindfulness as “being in the moment,” which is only partially accurate. There are several components of mindfulness, and I was taught of these three as the foundational pillars:
1. Love and Compassion
Love doesn’t necessarily equate to compassion, but compassion is the fundamental component of love. Mindfulness is dependent upon a compassionate and understanding acceptance of our self, our circumstance, and the people in our lives.
2. Gratitude
Intentional gratitude forces us to shift our attention to peace, contentment, and calm. Our brains are wired to focus automatically on what’s missing, which creates feelings of need and discontentment, which negates our ability to be truly mindful.
3. Presence of Moment
Perhaps the most obvious pillar of mindfulness, awareness of the present moment, as it is transpiring, is a fundamental component. In the spirit of living with a “beginner’s mind,” mindfulness is dependent upon experiencing our situation, others, and ourselves, with fresh eyes. We often approach life with preconceived notions, but mindfulness allows us to see what is truly in front of us.
I’ll write more about mindfulness on this blog at some point; it’s origins, specific methods of practice, and evidence of its effectiveness in helping to treat a host of psychiatric disorders. But, for now, I think understanding these three pillars is a good foundation upon which we can build.