Habit might be the enemy of Awareness or Mindfulness. Doing things routinely without thinking is a practice that allows our mind to wander into the past or the future or the make believe without really being present. Sometimes, this is just what I want to do! Yes, I admit to blowing up Mah Jong tiles and Free Cell rows when I want to veg out. But if I want to be truly alive, I try to pay attention to each present moment.
Thich Nhat Hahn gives a wonderful lesson to Oprah Winfrey on drinking tea mindfully in this clip. Oprah, out of habit, takes a sip of her tea before the meditation even begins. I smile, thinking, “how embarrassing!” and noting that I probably would have done the same thing if I wasn’t careful.
Habits can be comforting…and they can lull us to sleep. Do you want to be awake? Do you feel like there will be plenty of time to be dead later on? I do. Except when I don’t. It takes a lot of psychic energy to be alive! Think about all that’s involved when you do a simple thing like climb up a short flight of stairs. Your weight is shifting, balancing, your muscles are contracting, your toes are gripping, your hand may reach out to the banister, your eyes are measuring the height of each step, you’re breathing with the exertion, and all while trying to remember what you’re going upstairs for! Walking meditation, tea meditation, stairs meditation…it’s all the same practice of mindfulness.
This picture adds another aspect: Steve in meditation. I see him every day. I want to be mindful of that miracle. He’s alive, different, changing, dynamic, and important. So am I, but I have a long way to go on that one. Appreciating myself is the hardest practice for me.
– Priscilla Galasso
© 2013, essay and photographs (above and below), Priscilla Galasso, All rights reserved
PRISCILLA GALASSO ~ started her blog at scillagrace.com to mark the beginning of her fiftieth year. Born to summer and given a name that means ‘ancient’, her travel through seasons of time and landscape has inspired her to create visual and verbal souvenirs of her journey.
Currently living in Wisconsin, she considers herself a lifelong learner and educator. She gives private voice lessons, is employed by two different museums and runs a business (Scholar & Poet Books, via eBay and ABE Books) with her partner, Steve.
The BeZine 
Wonderful commentary on mindfulness. My experience also. One thing about being mindful is the subsequent peace. And you can go there whenever you want.
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Yes, Gretchen, with practice! 😉
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Pricilla: A welcome perspective! Yes, each day–each moment each day– challenges us to NOTICE what is happening, and step out of the habit of going numb or asleep. It seems we are very much on the same page in waking up to the preciousness of each moment–A lifetime of learning in each moment. Thank you!.
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Rob: I watched a TED talk that mentioned that we cannot numb selectively. When we numb our pain, we also numb joy. Having the courage to feel it all, to note it all, is an amazing gift and challenge.
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Great article, … but what about the habit to be mindful …
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Bert: I haven’t gotten to that stage yet, so I can’t say!
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neither have I 🙂 …
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Priscilla, a good thing to point to habit in the way that you have. I’d have to say that I think you are doing great. If we can see the problem clearly enough to name, then we are on our way … what is not to imply that it is all easy. Also, I believe that many people would say that taking the steps meditatively IS mindfulness.
Thanks for this contribution. Well considered and well done as always.
Many blessings,
Jamie
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Thanks, Jamie. This is really helping me be a better Mom, too. My kids call when they feel ‘stuck’ and without being punitive, we can look together at what’s going on and talk about making choices. Western tendency is to go to “bad dog! fix it” thinking. If I were still doing that (like I did when they were younger), they’d probably stop calling!
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Thank you for a very well expressed reminder about living our lives mindfully. You always have a fresh and thought-provoking perspective.
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Reminding myself as well!
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