It\u2019s okay, we\u2019re all perfectly imperfect.<\/p>\n
I was facilitating a discussion in one of my Mindful Foundations courses about our personal challenges and successes relating to doing a formal meditation practice. I shared my own successes, then noted my challenge was that I had skipped 2 practices. One of the participants said she was surprised that I would have missed doing a practice; she said \u201cSo, you\u2019re human?\u201d and I said, \u201cI absolutely am human! Sometimes I miss a meditation practice, sometimes I skip brushing my teeth before bed; and, I\u2019m okay with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just to be clear, I make a daily effort to carve out time for a formal meditation \u2013 and to brush my teeth. These are rituals that I think contribute to my physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. With that said, there are times when I have one of \u201cthose days\u201d and before I know it, my body is exhausted and just wants to sleep. In those moments, I choose to take deep mindful breaths and I do a body scan as my head hits the pillow and I feel wonderfully grateful.<\/p>\n
The conversation in that class was timely because it fed into our lesson on the 8 mindful attitudes, which are covered in most mindfulness courses. The 8 mindful attitudes are:<\/p>\n
Kindness\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Trust\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Acceptance\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Patience<\/p>\n
Beginner\u2019s Mind\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Non-judgement\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Non-striving\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Letting Go<\/p>\n
I invite you to explore how you can embody one, or more, of these attitudes this month. For example, can you be more patient towards someone whose behaviour is challenging you? Can you trust yourself more in knowing that you can handle your life and that you have the right support? Are you able to accept situations that are out of your control and place attention on what you can control?<\/p>\n