Below is a guest post from CCV Student Eleanor Kinsey.
Do you ever have trouble sleeping because it feels like your mind just won't stop? Can't read that assigned chapter because, even though you're looking right at the page all you're seeing is yesterday's frustrating events play over again? “I can't believe that woman honked at me. It's not like I didn't have my turn signal on.” “I wonder what is on tomorrow's test?” “...Peanut butter...” You can't stop worrying about the future or analyzing the past. You're thinking about everything but the present. Your mind feels so...full and out of control.
The ancient practice of Mindfulness can help us regain control of our minds so we can spend more time in the present moment and less time trying to sort through a cluttered mind. What is Mindfulness? According to Shapiro, “Knowing the state of your mind in this moment, without judging it, evaluating it, thinking about it, or trying to change it, is mindfulness” (5). Sounds easy, but what usually happens when a thought floats into our minds? The “committee” arrives to talk about it, pick it apart, and open the door for other anxiously awaiting thoughts. The other day I sat down to meditate and began thinking, “Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Something smells like lasagna.” The committee immediately said, “Lasagna sounds good!” and proceeded to, “I wonder if I have time to get some burger before Willey's closes. How much longer do I have to meditate? Oh, shoot! I'm thinking! Man, I suck at meditating.” It doesn't take long for an aware mind to shift right back into mindless chatter. “Our mind analyzes our successes and failures, judging and comparing, planning and fearing for the future” (Ma 46). This creates a constant state of stress and anxiety (46) and hinders our ability to focus.
