The attitudes of mindfulness are the ways in which we approach mindfulness to embody the essence of the practice. They are very much practices in & of themselves & are interlinked. Often when we start to really embody the essence of non-judgment for example, we’ll find the spirit of acceptance & forgiveness is easier to cultivate.

So let’s investigate these attitudes in a little more detail:

Non-judgment – we are essentially quite a judge-y species. The first step in not judging, as in changing any behaviour, is to become aware of it, the second step is to not judge the judging – simply notice it. Overtime you will become aware of the judgment subsiding. It’s all about not being quite so critical of ourselves or others.

Kindful acceptance, forgiveness & compassion – if we are kinder, more accepting, forgiving & compassionate to ourselves we are generally kinder, more accepting, forgiving & compassionate to others. Acceptance, forgiveness, kindness & compassion are all choices we make. They are not a giving up or giving in energy but simply a conscious choice to let go, surrender & release the stories we are telling ourselves. They are attitudes which help us to cultivate a sense of patience & trust in ourselves, others & in the process itself.

Playful curiosity – this is sometimes a tough one for us adults, we sometimes take ourselves & life a little too seriously. Again this about a choice: choosing joy, fun & happiness & noticing how this really shifts our energy. It is about not criticising our thoughts, feelings or emotions but bringing an essence of playful curiosity to whatever we are experiencing: a sense of oooh that’s interesting or I wonder what that’s all about. Playful curiosity is closely linked to the idea of a beginner’s mind, bringing a sense of childlike wonder, the sense of what was it like the first time we experienced something.

Non-striving – this is something else we often struggle with because we have been conditioned to pursue goals, push for achievements & accomplishments. The funny thing with non-striving is actually once we take the pressure off & start to enjoy the process instead of the outcome, we actually start to ‘achieve’ more! Something that is also worth noticing when we start to cultivate an attitude of non-striving: an ability to slow down & actually take some time to reflect upon, acknowledge & appreciate our achievements. Sadly, we are often so programed to achieve & strive that we rarely take time to appreciate what we have actually achieved before we are onto the next thing.

Gratitude – cultivating a sense of appreciation & gratitude for our lives, experiences, thoughts, feelings literally helps to rewire our brains. I have practiced gratitude almost daily for the past 8 years & I credit it, together with a daily meditation & yoga practice, with changing the way I think about & relate to myself & others.

Heartfulness – in Asian cultures the word for heart & mind are often interchangeable so we can think of the essence of mindfulness as heartfulness.

In the end, as we start to embrace one or two of these mindful attitudes, we begin to see how closely related & interlinked they are & it becomes easier to embrace other attitudes. But just like mindfulness, yoga & meditation, these attitudes are all practices, the more we practice, the more they influence our lives for the better.

This week’s meditation is a mindfulness of breath meditation & to obtain your copy, just simply email Alex to the email address below quoting Frost mindfulness attitudes. Next time we will be exploring why & how we can use the breath & the body to anchor ourselves into the present moment & cultivate a more mindful approach to living & being.

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for the last 8 years, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a sense of peace & calm within & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices.

If you would like more information on how to practice mindfulness, meditation & yoga message her at alex@myananda.co.uk.

For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships

Alternatively please check out her website: www.myananda.co.uk