Practising Mindfulness

Category: Mindfulness

  • My Front Door

    What does your front door look like? Is it strong and sturdy? Or does it look like it could easily be broken down?

    Where I work the door is mainly made of glass. It has an open sign in the window when I’m there. Very recently a lady called Mrs Hackaday called in to complain that we hadn’t been able to help her. To me she seems to have become a little fixated. She tells me she has recently lost her husband. Goodness knows where. And she tells me she used to be a psychologist. I mentioned I used to be a Hypnoanalyst. She didn’t stay long after that. Better results you see.

    I feel it’s okay to have a glass fronted door where I work but wouldn’t want this kind of door where I live. I remember the door of my childhood home was at least 50% glass

    Think of this: The greater my awareness the stronger my front door. It’s not as if I’m always hiding behind one of those little spy holes. Not at all. In fact, if I decide to open the door, I see the whole person standing in front of me. Disability and all. The question is whether or not I decide to open the door in the first place. The spy hole helps. My awareness helps me to make this decision. I ask If opening myself up to this person is of any benefit to me, or am I likely to be angered by their forgetfulness (lack of awareness).

    I think of mindfulness as my beautiful front door. My mind safely protected behind

    Yes. Protected. Because so many people are forgetful of their manners and seem intent on knocking very loudly. Even attempting to break down the door with a battering ram. But now? Not a chance. My awareness is my beautiful, sturdy, front door.

  • Who’s Responsible?

    As obvious as it might sound we must always remember to place responsibility where it lies

    I’ve recently experienced a problem with my post and now find myself worrying as to whether future parcels and letters are going to reach me or not. In a quieter moment, I let this worry go, by recognising that the only responsibilities I have, is to ensure my address is clearly marked on the door, and that I’m either in when my mail is expected, or have made alternative arrangements for where it can be dropped off. Beyond this, I have no control over the situation whatsoever. If my mail doesn’t turn up, all I’m able to do is contact the carrier responsible for my parcels and make a claim for lost items. Not having experienced this before, I’m assuming they will now look for the lost item, and if not found, I will be reimbursed to the value of its contents.

    The point to gain is, worrying about anything that isn’t our responsibility, and consequently have no control over, is wasted energy

    Whilst wasting energy, on things that are neither our responsibility or under our control, we’re not getting on with the important business of fulfilling what is. Leave the job of delivering mail to the carrier and focus on what really matters: your responsibilities.

    It brings to mind the important business of ensuring we take proper responsibility for ourselves. An extreme example would be codependent relationships. I’ve recently heard the issue of codependence taken very lightly and even suggested as acceptable. Perhaps to some it is, however, the trouble with a codependent relationship, is its restrictive nature. It’s the old joke about the dying man who’d been in a codependent relationship all his married life and how, in the moment of his death, he saw someone else’s life pass before his eyes. Those within abusive relationships don’t often see it until it’s too late.

    And so, once again, be sure to focus on bringing your own mind under your own control (if you don’t someone else will) and only concern yourself with what you’re responsible for. And if you’re in the business of delivering mail, surely, it’s a specialty of yours, to know where the mail should be going? Take care, take responsibility, and focus on what your specialty is, and all will be well.