“Ultimately I see mindfulness as a love affair – with life, with reality and imagination, with the beauty of your own being, with your heart and body and mind, and with the world.”

– Jon Kabat Zinn

Mindful living

What an inspiring way to describe mindfulness. Life is beautiful.

In the beginning it takes practice, and yes, some discipline to bring mindful awareness to our thoughts and feelings.   Many of us will choose to sit in meditation as a daily practice, and focus on our breath. This takes time and willpower. Which is also part of the mindful practice.

Yet, ultimately, it isn’t about the place we are practicing in, or what we want to gain from meditation. Its about opening ourselves up to being aware of every aspect of our life. Our actions, thoughts, beliefs, speech. Our body and breath. Our attitudes and how we relate to others.

Connecting to the world around us and within us.

It becomes a love affair with the world and our being-ness.

Namaste

 

87 responses to “Inspiration – Mindfulness”

  1. Lovely perspective, Val.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Jean 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Lovely reminder of what we are ALL capable of BE-coming. Great start to the day! 💕

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Glad you enjoyed it Carrie. I hope it set up a wonderful day for you 💕

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I live you for this Ann 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  3. This is wonderful, Val.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much Jill ❣️

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Sheilagh! Your new photo deserves an upgrade to your name 💕
      Unless you’d rather be called Sunny of course (?)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. They’re both fine. I’m still 😎 sunny!

        Liked by 1 person

  4. I am sometimes baffled by the challenges of mindfulness, for there are many unconscious people. But the more I practice it, the more I embrace it, for no matter what is swirling around me, there is always that pulse of love. It really is a love affair. Great post, Val.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Jet for this thoughtful comment. 💛 There seems to be such a gap between acknowledging what mindfulness is, and then taking time to be with it, and to be curious about whatever comes up in this awareness. Ignorance and distraction is more comfortable to many. 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  5. And to you, Namaste

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Beautiful! Thank you,

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Donna 💛

      Like

  7. A lovely reminder to just BE. Thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed this reminder . Thank you 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Here’s to being fully present in our lives.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes! Thank you Nancy 💕

      Like

  9. A great (and accurate) quote. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We are in accord ❣️ Thanks Eliza xo

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  10. I HEARTily agree Val! ♥

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ❤️ ly comment Yvonne. Thank you 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Hi Val! I always look forward to your posts. Thank you for that lovely reminder. The first book I ever picked up on mindfulness was “Full Catastrophe Living” by Zinn…I believe he’s one of the best on this topic!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So good to hear from you! Thank you Colleen 💕

      Like

  12. My favorite affair 🙏🏻💚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Love it 💕 thanks Karen 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Very nice written – love it! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  14. being-ness. Big word.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Bigger than doing-ness and thinking-ness that’s for sure! Thanks David 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Love your description of it as being a Love affair 🙂 for it is exactly that.. 🙂 💖💖 Beautiful words as ever dear Val Enjoy your wonderful Day

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Sue. Enjoy your love affair today ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  16. excellent!!! ❤ btw, we've known Jon Kabat Zinn for years and we do follow his "classes"… 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. He has so much wisdom to share. Thank you Melanie 💛

      Like

  17. What a love affair! Wonderful reminder of mindfulness ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Agreed. 💞 thank you Helen 💛

      Like

  18. What is the greatest change that manifested in your life since the day you began meditating?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The opening up of love and gratitude in my life and for others. What about you Taylor?

      Liked by 1 person

  19. When I began meditating my fear and anxiousness began to fall away. This created new strength for me to be myself around anyone and everyone! This is only one of many changes though so I guess a better question is what doesn’t change when you start meditating 😅

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I often find that my mindfulness occurs in other places now and I think you are right it is about being aware of every aspect of our lives.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Alison 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Can’t live without it …

    Liked by 1 person

  22. I haven’t been awake long.. and this was a very uplifting way to begin the day! I’m wanting to find out more about mindfulness and this was a great start! Thank you

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So glad you started your day well 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  23. […] via Inspiration – Mindfulness — Find Your Middle Ground […]

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  24. My go-to Mindfulness Avatar
    My go-to Mindfulness

    I love the description “love affair with the world” that’s exactly what it is. And yes, it takes time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for your kind comment. I appreciate it 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  25. I love your mindset. It is so beautiful. 🌎

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Jay. It takes one to recognize in the other. 💛

      Liked by 1 person

    2. WordsWithGhost Avatar
      WordsWithGhost

      beautiful! beautiful! and beautiful!

      Like

  26. Recently have began meditating, mostly on gratitude! I am using the Meditation studio app as a learning tool and it has been great. Check out my thoughts on mindset at limitlesspotential.net I am interested in your thoughts.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you John for stopping by. There are some good apps out there now. I’ll check out your thoughts. 💛

      Like

  27. […] via Inspiration – Mindfulness — Find Your Middle Ground […]

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  28. most importantly it helps soothe the impatient heart and calms the nerves.

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  29. […] Source: Inspiration – Mindfulness […]

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  30. And it also takes a lot of self-awareness. I initially had to keep reminding myself stay in the moment. And soo I stopped having mindless conversations in my head and suddenly I realised how awesome it feels to be in the moment. The happy spectrum of the brain is triggered and as you slowly learn to feel that you become more and more aware and stay in the moment longer and soon learn to master it.

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  31. I absolutely love this post! This is such a critical topic to our everyday life and often times we disregard it!

    If you’re up for it, Here is my website: https://lesleydiana.com

    I look forward to your thoughts!

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    1. Thank you Lesley D 💛

      Like

  32. blissfulbohemian17 Avatar
    blissfulbohemian17

    Many people do not know how. What do you say for them?

    Followed 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you blissful. I would say, take a moment and notice what is around you, or perhaps start journaling about what thoughts and feelings you are having in that moment. 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So glad you appreciated it. Thank you 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  34. Beautiful Thanks, You can check something i wrote about depression i wrote on my page https://azarsworld.wordpress.com/2017/07/22/do-i-have-a-fighting-chance-over-depression/

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  35. Beautiful post! and that quote… Sublime. Thank you for taking the time to write this, so glad I stumbled upon it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed it 💛

      Like

  36. […] via Inspiration – Mindfulness — Find Your Middle Ground […]

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  37. I feel Mindful when I jog and swim. Not very good at finding the time to sit and just be but sometimes this is also just what is needed. Thanks for sharing Val! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sitting can be such a challenge. I like the idea of honoring the body in its ability to move, as well as respecting the mind. Thank you Samba 🙏

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      1. Thanks Val each person has to find their own way to Mindfulness I think. Have an energising day! Sam 😀

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  38. Very beautiful reminder. Namaste 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Thank you for sharing 😊🙏🌸

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