I hear the word “mindfulness” a lot more than I did 25 years ago when I first started practicing meditation.
Last week, a client asked me, “How would you define mindfulness?” And it got me thinking.
I experience mindfulness as an alert, sustained, flexible focus of attention on “what is.”
Using our SoulCollage cards in a mindful way, working with our cards becomes part of our spiritual practice. We might begin our “ritual” with a little prayer or blessing, invoking The Source to help us find a healing voice through the cards; to bring compassion into our lives.
Mindfulness is easy when everything’s going great. But in challenging times, when our minds and emotions froth like a stormy sea, your SoulCollage cards can offer that still small voice of calmness and neutrality about “what is” and then begin to calm the storm in the mind.
The 3-Minute Breathing Space
As an example, your kids are screaming, the house is a mess, you’ve got a project due in 3 hours.
- Draw a card you like from your deck and ask, “What would you have me know?”
- Listen. Just be. Let the words come to you without seeking. The simple act of listening will start to calm the mind. Kindling receptivity signals the body to breathed.
- Let a tiny micro smile come to your lips and watch the tide of well being start to flow from your nervous system to your body.
- Now ask your card 3 simple questions:
- What is?
- How can I be more present?
- What’s next?
Listen for the answers. Let the message come to you. Stop seeking. Be open and receptive like a flower opening to the suns warmth.
- Alert
- Sustained
- Flexible
- Focus of attention on
- “What is.”
Now go back to what you were doing.
Be prepared to be more peaceful and productive.
See the similarities between SoulCollage® and Mindfulness
What happens when we practice:
|
Mindfulness |
SoulCollage® |
| We are totally absorbed in what we are doing. We have that delicious feeling of Flow. We live in the present moment |
yes |
yes |
| We have a gentle awareness of our thoughts, rather than believing our thoughts |
yes |
yes |
| We are deeply engaged so that it keeps our attention focused, so that distractions cannot penetrate |
yes |
yes |
| As our attention focuses and narrows, self-consciousness evaporates |
yes |
yes |
| Awareness and action merge |
yes |
yes |
| We feel sense of personal mastery |
yes |
yes |
| The experience is intrinsically rewarding so it is a lasting pleasure in and of itself. Its memory empowers us. |
yes |
yes |
| Every moment is new, novel. We sit in that place of not knowing, of discovery |
yes |
yes |
| We let go of self improvement, and see and feel what is instead |
yes |
yes |
| Our powerful focus and awareness on what is, helps us see the hidden meaning and power in every day life |
yes |
yes |
Benefits of the practice |
Mindfulness |
SoulCollage® |
| Inoculates us against impulsive thoughts, worry, rumination |
yes |
yes |
| Enables us to embrace rather than run away from troublesome behaviors or thought patterns, so we can heal |
yes |
yes |
| We learn the power of acceptance by the very nature of the activity |
yes |
yes |
Optimal conditions for the practice |
Mindfulness |
SoulCollage® |
| Challenging but not unattainable, we use simple skills and we also stretch a little |
yes |
yes |
| Matched to ability level, so as to not feel stressful, but not so easy it would be boring |
yes |
yes |
| Goals needs to be clearly defined, concrete so that each step is clear |
yes |
yes |
| Need immediate feedback, to gauge progress quickly. If it’s not working it’s apparent and we change what we’re doing |
yes |
yes |