Suzanne Matthiessen: The Mind-Body Coach: Proactive Secular Mindfulness and Self-Directed Neuroplasticity

Suzanne Matthiessen, Ch.T

Mindfulness is a strong but gentle bridge that carries you fully into the present moment.

Mind-full-ness is simply about being consciously aware of what is going on in the present moment as opposed to going about life in an auto-pilot mind-less-ness mode - and paying attention to the often stress-inducing tendency to muck about in the past or anxiously project about the future. By noticing when we begin to slip into this behavior, we can learn to decrease the frequency of this happening.

By contrast, mind-less-ness is the consciousness-detached state which many people have accepted as normal, wherein life is lived mechanically and they go about their daily lives disconnected from what is fully and actually occurring in the present moment. A mind-less-ness life is one constant steam of distractions and "multi-tasking" - overbooked, scattered, ungrounded and robotically cut off from what the person may authentically think or feel and what is actually being expressed to them by others.

In a mind-less-ness life, the experience of the present moment - the taste and texture of food, the softness of a lover's touch, the beauty of the sky, a small kind gesture from another - often go unacknowledged and unappreciated. When someone is living life mind-less-ly, they react to stressful situations with volatility, triggered subconsciously by past events mired in fear, anger and other shadow emotions without even realizing it. Mind-less-ness destroys relationships of all types - including the one with ourselves, as our self-esteem, courage and confidence become shattered, and our thoughts, choices, actions and behaviors are unproductive and even destructive to where our health suffers as well.

Mind-full-ness is about being aware, focused, attentive, purposeful, open, authentic, engaged, empathetic and in tune with ourselves, with others and with what surrounds us. It grants us the ability to pause and broaden our scope of vision instead of myopically reacting with conditioned, ingrained mental and emotional patterns and triggers. It is being present, fully experiencing whatever you may be doing, whether it is interacting with a cashier at the market, sitting in class, making love, playing golf, driving to somewhere you go to regularly, eating dinner or taking a walk.

Mindfulness isn't a trend. It isn't something you flirt with or practice when you “feel like it." It’s a purposeful way of living you make a lifetime commitment to - one breath at a time.

Mindfulness is about deliberately allowing the present moment fully into our consciousness and
experiencing The Zone of heightened alive awareness as a natural state of being, rather than ruminating about the past or neurotically projecting into the future.

Living Mindfully is an upgrade of our old, buggy, ingrained, inefficient and outmoded internal operating system, which breaks through our worn out, boring status quo
and allows us to proactively and fearlessly take positive control
of our lives and how daily stressors affect us.

Mindfulness is also about being fully accountable for the thoughts, choices and actions
and behaviors we enagage in that affect both us and those we come into contact with in
either a positive or negative manner.

Mindfulness and a stuck, rigid, victim-mentality, blaming, irresponsible, dishonest,
ego-driven, elitist, disrespectful, denial-ridden and divisive mindset cannot co-exist.

And in a vast sense, Mindfulness requires Growing Up and Playing Big in Life.

Extensive clinical research conducted over the past thirty years has clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of a mindful approach to stress management, as well as a host of other health conditions including depression, eating disorders, addiction relapse prevention and more. Other positive benefits include (but are not limited to):

* Increased immune system function
* Less frequency and duration of colds and other illnesses
* Improved ability to manage chronic pain
* Decreased heart rate and blood pressure
* Improved sleep and digestion
* Increased energy
* Improved mental and cognitive function
* Improved decision-making ability
* Less irritability, anxiety, and depression
* Improved interpersonal relationships
* Increased resilience to change

The UMass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness Stress Reduction Program’s medical outcomes from 15,000 patients’ participation since 1979 have shown “a 35% reduction in the number of medical symptoms and a 40% reduction in psychological symptoms.”

Although brought into mainstream, secular awareness via Buddhist philosophy, mindfulness is not a religious or spiritual practice - although it can compliment virtually any one of them. It is a positive Life Skill technique of intentionally re-minding ones self via paying conscious, moment-by-moment deliberate attention to the impact we have, and purposely choosing a way of living that fosters awareness, courage, compassion, inclusiveness and mutual respect toward the perspectives and needs of others - as well as ourselves - and learning how to respond as opposed to react to stressful triggers and situations.

Deliberate secular mindfulness requires accepting yourself in the now, while also being proactive about improving that which you have control over as you move forward in life. It is cultivated by practicing mindfulness meditation and radically honest and deeply reflective self-inquiry. No sitting cross-legged on pillows and chanting, no cult mentality, no mantras or incense required.

The fast-evolving field of neuroscience and its companion discipline of neuroplasticity is proving that each of us can consciously, intentionally choose to change our brains by how we deliberately use our minds. In addition to our genetic makeup, and the environment we live in, the thoughts, choices, actions and behaviors we engage in play a role in how and what ways our minds (and our brains) can be re-shaped - either in positive and productive ways, or negative and destructive ways. Scientific experiments are constantly demonstrating that by deliberately focusing our mental attention we can constantly fire and strengthen new neurons in our brains - even in our latter years - and can accelerate gainful and humanitarian-based emotions and attitudes such as mutual respect, kindness, patience, healthy self-esteem, non-enablement, appropriate self-control, wise boundaries, positive coping skills, emotional and social intelligence, fearless inner strength, and last but not least, empathy and compassion.

No one "owns" mindfulness. It's a gift that can be shared but never possessed. One must be careful when desiring to own or "brand" mindfulness practices as theirs alone, as it can imply attached possessiveness and lead to "I-me-mine" separation, non-mindful competition and elitism - none of which are found in the purest expression of living mindfully every day.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation is the contemplative art of training the mind and body in becoming fully awake and attentively present in the moment, regardless of what is going on within and without us, acquired by a purposeful and joyful spirit of adventurous commitment.

In formal sitting practice, the breath is used as the locus of attention and the link between mind and body. Mindfulness Meditation can also be practiced with eyes fully open, bringing attentive presence into every activity, conversation and situation. It is simple to learn, and the positive effects are almost immediate.

Consistent daily practice promotes the development of stability, equanimity and non-reactivity of the mind. In turn, this empowers us to face the unpleasant, uncomfortable, or painful aspects of daily life, as well as to honestly look within and face the unpleasant, uncomfortable or painful aspects of ourselves - and fear-lessly do the work to bring light to even the darkest shadows and corners of who we are.

The increased mind-body balance cultivated by formal practice supports our ability to become more compassionate and empathetic human beings. By developing a calm and centered awareness, we are able to upgrade our inner operating system up and out of the old status quo of habitual negative, harmful and unproductive ingrained thoughts, actions, choices and behaviors, let go of the past and connect with present reality, with ourselves, and with others in a healthier and more meaningful way.

The process of attaining greater self-mastery through Mindfulness Meditation practice is also a form of selfless service so that we can lead by transparent, strong, humble example for the benefit of all those whose lives we come into contact with, and for the positive ripple effect that can have in our homes, schools, workplaces, communities, nations and the world as a whole.

"Mindfulness is a form of mental activity that trains the mind to become aware of awareness itself and to pay attention to one's own intention. As researchers have defined it, mindfulness requires paying attention to the present moment from a stance that is nonjudgmental and nonreactive. It teaches self observation: practitioners are able to describe with words the internal seascape of the mind. At the heart of this process, I believe, is a form of 'tuning in' to oneself that enables people to become 'their own best friend.' And just as our attachment to our children promotes a healthy, secure attachment, tuning in to the self also promotes a foundation for resilience and flexibility."

- Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. from Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation . Harvard-educated Dr. Siegel is clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, co-director of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, and executive director of the Mindsight Institute.