Taking skills, tools, techniques, and information learned in treatment can be challenging. Mindfulness is a lifestyle choice for recovery as much as it is a daily practice. These three tips help overcome common objections to mindfulness after treatment.
Examine Your Doubt About The Effectiveness Of Mindfulness
Spending an eternity in contemplation is possible. For mindfulness, this is ironic. Mindfulness is, in part, a form of meditation, which is largely a practice of contemplation. Bring the mind to awareness and a state of noticing means being able to contemplate, in a nonjudgmental way, what is going on in the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Looking at the doubts which may be coming up about how effective mindfulness is, should it even be practiced, or how much it really helps recovery from addiction, is in fact a mindful practice! Once all doubts have been considered, see what can be let go of in order to move forward.
Create A Unique Mindfulness Practice
Mindful meditation doesn’t work for everyone. One of the primary arguments many create against mindfulness is having to be quiet, sit still, and concentrate. Mindfulness doesn’t actually require any of this. Instead, mindfulness can be applied to many activities and actions. Practicing mindfulness simply means bringing a level of awareness to the present moment, fostering the ability to pay attention and notice. Exercise, creative expression, cooking, cleaning, and even taking a shower can all be done mindfully. Incorporate the breath into everyday activities. Notice if there is a difference when integrating focus on the breath versus not integrating focus on the breath.
Remember, Feelings Are Passing Experiences, Not Permanent Facts
Creating an “excuse” for not practicing mindfulness is another double edge sword when it comes to practicing mindfulness. Allowing emotions and feelings- experiences of the now- to fully take over is in a way living in the present. It can become a blockade to practicing mindfulness when it is considered the absolute, rather than the temporary. However, noticing these feelings is an act of mindfulness. Living in mindfulness is a choice as much as it is a practice. In fact, one learns to practice choosing.
Mindfulness is a key component of the unique and integrative treatment program at Cypress Lakes Lodge. Our residential treatment programs bring together holistic and therapeutic modalities to restore and rejuvenate. For more information, call us today at 1-877-938-1577.