That, in a nutshell seems to be the choice, when it comes to practising mindfulness.

My awareness of the subject was prompted 9 years ago when co-facilitating a leadership programme for senior partners with a leading accountancy firm. Prior to then, the practice of mindfulness and of meditation had no appeal. What made the difference?

This time, the practice was introduced to me by someone who had taken it very seriously for several years, even handing his successful business to a foundation in order to practice full time and to train formally. What he introduced me to was the neuroscience that explained what mindfulness practice does to positively affect and develop the brain. Also, how the practice can help us to manage our instinctive and emotional responses to what is happening to us, once our awareness is raised and we can really notice what is going on. There was no zealous advocacy or talk of ‘enlightenment’, the approach was mindful and met the group where they were starting from.

My buttons were well and truly pressed – I could identify all the instinctive and emotional responses that were happening inside me, as well as the physical manifestations of these in different parts of my body. Now I could start to learn more about how my instincts and emotions can work for me rather than against me. Now I could begin to get things in perspective, reduce my anxiety levels, and trust my instincts.

And therein lies a rub… I have to notice more and be really in touch with what is happening for me in order to be more.  Noticing means really feeling the pain as well as the joy; it means acknowledging one’s own part in things that aren’t going right as well as the things that are helping; it means facing up to the reality of some aspects of me and my life that aren’t great as well as those that are. For someone who tends to see and respond to the negatives of me, acknowledging the positives is uncomfortable and smacks of immodesty. In the end, I have to admit, that it does make me feel much better when I am kinder to myself.

Mindfulness practice is no quick fix, of that I am convinced. It is also not a panacea for every problem under the sun. I get also that it has a long history and there is a context of spirituality that underpins its source in Buddhism. That aspect is not calling me just now – what I DO get is that it requires me to make an ethical commitment “not to harm others and to engage in wholesome actions” (Mark Greenburg). I make that commitment wholeheartedly.

Mindfulness practice is full of possibility; the possibility of opening up to different ways of doing things; the possibility of enjoying life more; the possibility of just doing things I have put off in the past – like writing a blog! Best of all, it offers the possibility of enhancing my experience in all aspects of my life. So, I can make it part of my work as well as all my relationships. It will take time….

Fortunately, help is at hand. In just a month’s time I will have the privilege of working with Dr Joel and Michelle Levey who are coming over from the USA. They have been practising and teaching together all their adult lives. They have pioneered techniques for embedding mindfulness and mind-fitness into people’s lives as they choose to live them. Learning from masters will help me on my journey – to be more. You can join me, it promises to be very special: http://bit.ly/1tymgzT

PS If you would like to know more about what mindfulness is, quite the best blog I have come across with some great videos and quotes embedded is from the RSA here: http://bit.ly/1qdrVfr

Also you can find me exploring what it is to be mindful with others at a Facebook group: Mindful Together.