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Mindfulness
May. 10th, 2014 09:17 amI have been studying Kung Fu for a couple of years now. I have had only one Sifu and he has taught me a lot. I have no idea what belt or sash I would be since he tends to tailor things for either Peter or me depending on what we need. He was instrumental in getting Peter back to pre-stroke condition giving him exercises that helped Peter regain movement that he had lost.
While working through a lesson, the three of us talk all kinds of things from the philosophy of Kung Fu in specific and Martial Arts in general to international politics and local politics to what movies or TV shows we have seen recently. It is a comfortable friendship.
One thing that we have talked about in various ways is the idea of mindfulness or being in the now. Taking what is around you and not judging as good or bad. Being aware without being overwhelmed.
I have found myself using this idea pretty much on a daily basis. When my brain runs off too far, I find myself taking a couple of careful breaths and bringing myself back to the here and now. Not worrying about the next day or week or hour or what happened in the past day or week or hour. Just bringing me back to the here. It use to be very difficult to do but over time and with a lot of practice, I have found that in most situations I can do it.
It gives me moments of clarity that I can take that breath and then go on to figuring out what is next rather than getting stuck in a loop.
Now it doesn’t work all the time. There are times that my brain resists my best efforts to calm it. So I let it run its course and get on with my life.
I do take comfort that I can bring myself in the moment a lot easier than I could a couple of years ago. I think it has made me a much less stressed person. I have been told that I have a quiet strength and calmness about me, which is high praise indeed.
I don’t think I would have made it through all that has happened without this ability.
Could I teach it to someone else? I don’t think so. I found what works for my brain but I can’t explain how I do it.
My suggestion would be to try to be in the moment. Take a couple of breaths and let the past and future go for a moment. Feel the world around you. Your clothing on your body. The air moving around you. The sounds you can hear. I use my 5 senses to calm myself and bring my self back to the now. And I feel that I have succeed if I can do this for even a moment.
I am grateful for all that Sifu had taught me over the years.
While working through a lesson, the three of us talk all kinds of things from the philosophy of Kung Fu in specific and Martial Arts in general to international politics and local politics to what movies or TV shows we have seen recently. It is a comfortable friendship.
One thing that we have talked about in various ways is the idea of mindfulness or being in the now. Taking what is around you and not judging as good or bad. Being aware without being overwhelmed.
I have found myself using this idea pretty much on a daily basis. When my brain runs off too far, I find myself taking a couple of careful breaths and bringing myself back to the here and now. Not worrying about the next day or week or hour or what happened in the past day or week or hour. Just bringing me back to the here. It use to be very difficult to do but over time and with a lot of practice, I have found that in most situations I can do it.
It gives me moments of clarity that I can take that breath and then go on to figuring out what is next rather than getting stuck in a loop.
Now it doesn’t work all the time. There are times that my brain resists my best efforts to calm it. So I let it run its course and get on with my life.
I do take comfort that I can bring myself in the moment a lot easier than I could a couple of years ago. I think it has made me a much less stressed person. I have been told that I have a quiet strength and calmness about me, which is high praise indeed.
I don’t think I would have made it through all that has happened without this ability.
Could I teach it to someone else? I don’t think so. I found what works for my brain but I can’t explain how I do it.
My suggestion would be to try to be in the moment. Take a couple of breaths and let the past and future go for a moment. Feel the world around you. Your clothing on your body. The air moving around you. The sounds you can hear. I use my 5 senses to calm myself and bring my self back to the now. And I feel that I have succeed if I can do this for even a moment.
I am grateful for all that Sifu had taught me over the years.
