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**Michmant** · 08-04-2011, 07:31 PM

Hi,

I was listening to an interesting talk last night called ‘The Middle of the Mess’ on AudioDharma, and it was about how we can start to practice being more mindful in our daily lives, rather than just when we are sitting on the cushion meditating. She was saying how much of a challenge this is, but it is possible if we try hard and just keep practicing away - and most importantly, remember to do it! She said that is the hardest part, to actually remember when you’re in the midst of doing things in daily life.

She was explaining how we should try and just notice what thoughts and feelings are coming up for us, without examining them as such. Just notice for example, ‘Yes, this is boredom or anger or depression etc’ and then let it go and get on with whatever it is you’re doing. She said, that way, by becoming more mindful of our emotions, they become more manageable and we don’t get caught up in them the same. They loosen their grip on us.

She was also talking about how we should try and ask ourselves three questions of our thoughts: 1. Are they necessary? 2. Are they kind? 3. Are they true? She said we all have ‘patterns’ we feel stuck in, and its good to start exploring these thought patterns by asking ourselves these three questions.

I just want to ask the more experienced meditators here, how easy or difficult they find it to carry the mindfulness they have developed during meditation practice, over into their daily lives. Is it a very difficult thing to do? Do you feel much more in control of your thoughts and emotions now, during daily life, compared to how you felt when you first began to meditate, and also are you able to be more mindful of your speech now?

I find it difficult to think and know clearly what I’m going to say before I actually say it. I find I tend to just get into the flow and say what comes naturally! When they say you should try and be aware and know what you are going to say before you say it, and why you are going to say it….wouldn’t that cause the flow of conversation to become very stilted and unnatural? Or is it just something which you become a little better at over time - being aware of what thoughts are there in your mind before you actually say the words - without trying to consciously put this into practice when you’re speaking with people?

08-04-2011, 07:31 PM	#1
Michmant Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 503 Senior Member	Mindfulness in daily life Hi, I was listening to an interesting talk last night called ‘The Middle of the Mess’ on AudioDharma, and it was about how we can start to practice being more mindful in our daily lives, rather than just when we are sitting on the cushion meditating. She was saying how much of a challenge this is, but it is possible if we try hard and just keep practicing away - and most importantly, remember to do it! She said that is the hardest part, to actually remember when you’re in the midst of doing things in daily life. She was explaining how we should try and just notice what thoughts and feelings are coming up for us, without examining them as such. Just notice for example, ‘Yes, this is boredom or anger or depression etc’ and then let it go and get on with whatever it is you’re doing. She said, that way, by becoming more mindful of our emotions, they become more manageable and we don’t get caught up in them the same. They loosen their grip on us. She was also talking about how we should try and ask ourselves three questions of our thoughts: 1. Are they necessary? 2. Are they kind? 3. Are they true? She said we all have ‘patterns’ we feel stuck in, and its good to start exploring these thought patterns by asking ourselves these three questions. I just want to ask the more experienced meditators here, how easy or difficult they find it to carry the mindfulness they have developed during meditation practice, over into their daily lives. Is it a very difficult thing to do? Do you feel much more in control of your thoughts and emotions now, during daily life, compared to how you felt when you first began to meditate, and also are you able to be more mindful of your speech now? I find it difficult to think and know clearly what I’m going to say before I actually say it. I find I tend to just get into the flow and say what comes naturally! When they say you should try and be aware and know what you are going to say before you say it, and why you are going to say it….wouldn’t that cause the flow of conversation to become very stilted and unnatural? Or is it just something which you become a little better at over time - being aware of what thoughts are there in your mind before you actually say the words - without trying to consciously put this into practice when you’re speaking with people?
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