Mindfulness is not some sort of otherworldly state that is a break from ordinary reality. Life is interaction, and mindfulness is our natural ability to manage the interactions of life under circumstances that are not too taxing. Under more stress, more primitive circuits take over (Polyvagal-informed mindfulness).
As I pause, I get a sense of who I am & what I want.
Pausing gives us the possibility to be mindful, i.e. to pay attention to our inner experience in relation to what we are doing. This kind of contemplation is not divorced from real life. It is what allows us to find motivation, and a felt sense of meaning and purpose, moment by moment. In other words, to be ourselves.
As you read the above, you might conclude that being mindful is a choice that we can all make at will. This is not the case. When faced with overwhelming circumstances, our nervous system shifts away from mindful engagement and into trauma mode. Mindful engagement requires at least some degree of safety and support. Under trauma, we lose our ability to be fully ourselves. This is what happens under oppression.
Active Pause was developed by Serge Prengel: “The core ideas of this site reflect my perspective. But having a specific point of view does not mean excluding other perspectives. I believe that we are enriched by being open to other points of view. Most of the content of this site consists of conversations with people representing a broad range of opinions and perspectives (see Podcast)”.
Coming up: Ongoing “Active Pause” process group will soon be announced in the newsletter.
“A user-friendly guide to the application of mindfulness in everyday life”: Read more about The Proactive Twelve Steps.
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