PRACTICAL MINDFUL ATTITUDE

Mindful Attitude Non-Judging

Mindful Attitude Non-Judging by Jon Kabat-Zinn

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Mindful attitude non-judging, if we are to find a more effective way of handling the stress in our lives. The first thing we will need to do is to be aware of these automatic judgments. So we can see through our own prejudices and fears and liberate ourselves from their tyranny.

When practicing the mindful attitude non-judging. It is important to recognize this judging quality of mind when it appears. Then intentionally assume the stance of an impartial witness by reminding yourself to just observe it. When you find the mind judging, you don’t have to stop it from doing that.

We use discernment in place of judging someone or something as good or bad. With practice and patience, we cultivate a beginner’s mind. The beginner’s mind is fresh and interested in understanding all of life.

Non-judging the judging

No need to judge the judging and make matters even more complicated for yourself.

As an example, let’s say you are practicing watching your breathing, as you did in the last chapter and as we will do a lot more in the next. At a certain point, you may find your mind saying something like, “This is boring,” or “This isn’t working,” or “I can’t do this.” These are judgments.

When judgments come up in our minds, it is very important to recognize them as judgmental thinking. Then remind yourself that the practice involves suspending judgment to just watch and feel whatever comes up.

Mindful attitude non-judging includes your own judging thoughts without acting on them in any way. mindful attitude non-judging

Then return to resting in the sensations of breathing.

Source- Full Catastrophe Living, by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., pages 33-40

“All that is required is to be aware of it happening

More Mindfulness- https://themindfulcoach.com/

Mindful Attitude Non-judging

Mindful attitude non-judging is cultivated by assuming the stance of an impar­tial witness to your own experience. To do this requires that you become aware of the constant stream of judging and reacting to inner and outer experiences that we are all normally caught up in and learn to step back from it.

When we begin practicing paying attention to the activity of our own mind, it is common to discover and to be surprised by the fact that we are constantly generating judgments about our experience. Almost everything we see is la­beled and categorized by the mind. We react to everything we experience in terms of what we think its value is to us. Some things, people, and events are judged as “good” because they make us feel good for some reason.

Others are equally quickly condemned as “bad” because they make us feel bad. The rest is categorized as “neutral” because we don’t think it has much relevance. Neutral things, people, and events are almost completely tuned out of our consciousness. We usually find them the most boring to give atten­tion to.

The Categorizing Habit

This habit of categorizing and judging our experience locks us into mechanical reactions that we are not even aware of and that often have no objective basis at all. These judgments tend to domi­nate our minds, making it difficult for us ever to find any peace within ourselves. It’s as if the mind were a yo-yo, going up and down on the string of our own judging thoughts all day long.

If you doubt this description of your mind, just observe how much you are preoccupied with liking and disliking, say during a ten-minute period as you go about your business.  If we are to find a more effective way of handling the stress in our lives, the first thing we will need to do is to be aware of these automatic judgments so that we can see through our own prejudices and fears and liberate ourselves from their tyranny.

Practicing Mindful Attitude Non-judging

When practicing mindful attitude non-judging. It is important to recognize this judging quality of mind. When it appears and to intentionally assume the stance of an impartial witness and reminding yourself to just observe it. When you find the mind judging, you don’t have to stop it from doing that. All that is required is to be aware of it happen­ing. No need to judge the judging and make matters even more complicated for yourself.

As an example, let’s say you are practicing watching your breathing, as you did in the last chapter and as we will do a lot more in the next. At a certain point, you may find your mind saying something like, “This is boring,” or “This isn’t working,” or “I can’t do this.” These are judgments.

When they come up in your mind. It is very important to recognize them as judgmental thinking. Then remind yourself that the practice involves suspending judgment and just watching whatever comes up. This includes your own judging thoughts, without pursuing them or acting on them in any way. Then return to the practice of mindful attention non-judging and watching your breathing.

Except – Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn (pages 33-34)

Respectfully,
Heidi & Ross

G Ross Clark C.C.P.,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada,
Email- TheMindfulCoach@gmail.com,
Training- MBSRtraining.com