For example, imagine that you are sitting still on the subway and you are observing the mind with mindful self-awareness.
When we take a close look at our minds with mindful self-awareness, we can see quite clearly that we are not our thinking, and therefore not the ego.
We can rest in mindful self-awareness listening to a completely quiet mind, we can hear a thought arise, and we can hear it cease, leaving us once again listening to a completely silent mind.
In any moment that we have this type of mindful self-awareness, our effectiveness and our happiness are no longer subject to whether the random thoughts that arise in the mind are "good" or "bad".
Through mindful self-awareness, we learn to harness the contrast of duality, that of right/wrong or good/bad and so on, in order to focus the edges of our perception toward wisdom.
Practicing these skills in any setting, even on a Sunday, changes your brain in ways that make it easier for you to be more mindful, self-aware, and empathetic in other settings, like work.
The intervention produced significant improvements in mindfulness, self-compassion, mindful health behaviors, and some health behaviors, well-being measures, and some body composition and physical fitness measures.
A sample of 24 university employees participated in a 10-week health behavior change intervention that featured psychoeducation in mindful and self-compassionate nutrition, exercise, and stress management and engagement in guided group exercise.
Mindful listening Self-compassion Kindness Sympathetic joy Flow Focusing on and savoring the good Appreciation and gratitude And good old-fashioned laughter.
So the big question is, "What's next?" The next big and powerful edge in sports is about a mindful and self-aware athlete.
Becoming more mindful and self-aware is not easy, but in doing so, we provide greater presence to our loved ones, reduce our stress and anxiety, and learn to mitigate the impact of life within the Age of Distraction.
