mindfulness news & tips
“Thought can organize the world so well that you are no longer able to see it.”
― Anthony de Mello, One Minute Wisdom
Thought seems to say, “I am far more important that what you are seeing, hearing etc. You should give all your attention to me. By the way, I heard this really annoying thing about you today.”
Walking around Venice recently I was amazed at how often I had to drag my mind back to the present moment. But of course my mind thinks its thoughts are far more interesting even than a remarkable historic city!
It all emphasised that mindfulness is always a commitment to present moment awareness and that it has to be renewed again and again even in a fascinating place like Venice.
It emphasises too that the natural setting of the brain is to wander away from the present which is rather inconvenient. Even when you put a lot of money and effort into an experience – visiting Venice, say, or an expensive meal, you may experience only a percentage of that experience because your mind will want to be somewhere else. With the deliberate practice of mindfulness you get to be present for more of these experiences. In that sense, I guess, mindfulness gives you better value for your money and your effort.