What is Mindfulness?

One of the silver linings of living in a post-Covid era is the abundance of information out there regarding stress management, promotion of well-being, and

staying grounded in a new era of uncertainty. Google searches for meditation are at an all time high and there is plethora of content out there for those seeking a path of liberation. The other edge of that sword is that there are so many different flavors of mindfulness practices out there, and so many interpretations of what meditation might look like, one can very easily become confused & overwhelmed.

Questions such as: "Where do I start?", "Which technique is best for me?", and "What the hell is mindfulness anyway!?", naturally arise.

Take a deep breath, pause, let it out. I've spent the last 10 years trying to figure out what a mindfulness practice looks like for me. I read many books, tried many techniques, was even initiated into a ancient tradition, but always felt like I was missing the mark. At one point, I just sat in front of a beautiful Red Maple tree and opened my heart to it 20 minutes a day. (One of my favorite all-time practices!). I experienced a wide range of sensations, with various results but always lacked confidence that I was properly meditating.

My first 10-day silent retreat was what brought it all home for me, but not in the way you might expect. After mightily struggling the first few days of the retreat, I had found a certain level of momentum building in my practice. By day 4 I was beginning to touch tranquility. By day 5 I felt like a supernatural being, radiating bliss and euphoria. By day 7 I felt one with nature and the universe. I thought, "Man, finally something I'm naturally good at!". But on Day 9, it all came crashing down. My ego suddenly found itself precariously perched on the edge of Oblivion. I left that retreat very shaken, confused, and fearful of continuing practice.

This is where Shinzen Young's system of Unified Mindfulness (UM) gave me the perspective and confidence to continue on. I had briefly explored this system in the months before my

10-day retreat. I was really drawn to how comprehensive and systematic this approach to mediation was. In fact, when I was lost in the experience of that retreat, it was UM principles that helped me get my bearings to some degree. After crash-landing from the retreat, it was a mindfulness coach well versed in this system that put it all in perspective for me. And it was the use of UM's universal approach that began to lay down a solid foundation for putting the pieces back together in a more complete, fulfilling, and sustainable way.

One of the best features of UM is that it clearly defines mindfulness in terms of 3-core skills: Concentration, Sensory Clarity, & Equanimity. As long as you have an object of focus (ie: the breath, a mantra, doing the dishes, etc) and you are bringing in the 3 core skills, you are meditating, you are practicing mindfulness. What I learned is that mindfulness can be achieved in any given moment, on or off the cushion; in formal practice or in daily life. It is a quality of attention and a reverence for what is unfolding moment to moment. A reverence for the beautiful, the tranquil, the mundane, and the down-right challenging. It is a way to open yourself to a life that is certain to offer you all of theses qualities and more in a continuously changing array of bouquets.

One of the take-homes for me is that life has always been uncertain. As scary as that may seem for some, it is a certainty that daily life will be ever fresh and new. If we feel stuck in any aspect of our life, an informed sense of Mindfulness in this direction can yield transformational results. If we get lost in the hum-drum of our daily routines, a Mindful eye can usher in magic and wonder where there was once only tediousness and monotony. If there are areas of our life that bring us joy and happiness, Mindfulness can help us dial into that fel

t sense even more deeply and use that experience to buoy us throughout periods of difficulty. Mindfulness is a way for us to make peace with the world inside of us and that world we are surrounded by. It is the doorway to a sense of unity and purpose that transcends the status quo; all economic, political, social, cultural restraints. It is the nectar that unifies and nourishes us all.

Mindfulness is ever present if you know how to look for it. Through this lens the scope of our life becomes limitless. All it takes is a dedication and reverence for practice; A willingness to show up for yourself on a daily basis no matter where you are at mentally, physically, emotionally. If we can show up for ourselves in this way, it ensures that we also hold this space for others. What might the world look like if this was our natural inclination? Find out by doing your part today.