An aspect of mindfulness and transforming our lives and wellbeing is noticing our automatic tendencies. These are the habitual thought patterns and reactions that occur almost unconsciously, instinctively, shaping our perceptions, interactions and behavior.
You might notice how quickly your mind jumps to conclusions in a situation or how easily you fall into judgment, putting up barriers, worry or frustration. These automatic tendencies are part of the mind’s way of functioning, surviving, shaped by past experiences and conditioning. Some of these tendencies may protect us, or have negligible consequences, or may be harming us or hindering us from advancing in our studies or at work.
Mindfulness offers the pause to step back and observe these tendencies without getting caught in them. It’s not about suppressing, eliminating nor justifying them but about becoming aware of their presence. This awareness is the first step in creating choice—rather than reacting automatically, we gain the ability to respond intentionally and helpfully.
By bringing a gentle curiosity to these habits, we begin to see them for what they are—mental patterns, not truths, and not our identity.
During this practice, the invitation is noticing what automatic tendencies arise such as judgments, restlessness and what happens after that, how do they influence our experience of the practice? And then bringing the mind back to our breath as a way to interrupt the cycle of automatic reactions.
It Is Marvellous, Elizabeth Bishop
It is marvellous to wake up together
At the same minute; marvellous to hear
The rain begin suddenly all over the roof,
To feel the air clear
As if electricity had passed through it
From a black mesh of wires in the sky.
All over the roof the rain hisses,
And below, the light falling of kisses.
And from the same simplified point of view
Of night and lying flat on one’s back
All things might change equally easily,
Since always to warn us there must be these black
Electrical wires dangling. Without surprise
The world might change to something quite different,
As the air changes or the lightning comes without our blinking,
Change as our kisses are changing without our thinking.
Guide: Noelle Lim
Image credit: Anton Lochov, Unsplash
Kindermind Center 