My Journey In Mindfulness

Mindfulness practice has been the key ‘tool’ that has helped me to live a clearer more self-aware life. You can look around for years trying to find ‘the way out’  of suffering through status, money, or some addiction, but being mindful really does drive home that ‘the answer’ is within yourself.

I was recently interviewed about my experience of mindfulness practice so I thought I’d share my responses here; to introduce my mindfulness journey, and to show that you are not alone in the challenges that you may be facing.

When did you begin to practice mindfulness? 

I started to practice mindfulness in 2002.

What pushed you to start?

I felt constantly stressed. I was beginning in my career and always had this feeling that I had to ‘make it’ – to climb the career ladder and make money. With this though came a growing sense of ‘unease’. It didn’t bring me the clarity that I was hoping for, nor the depth of relationships that I was longing for; particularly the relationship with myself.

Do you remember the first time you practiced? What was the experience like? 

It was a long time ago, so I’m not exactly sure of the first time. I think it was probably when I was back at home, in my room in London. I would meditate in front of the radiator, one because it was white, and, two because it was warm. This makes me think that it was probably a cold, grey day in London (Autumn or Winter), when I was feeling particularly down, that I started. At the beginning, I was reading a book called ‘The Three Pillars of Zen’ by Philip Kapleau, and I remember following the practices outlined in the book. I felt immediately drawn to the practice and life-style that he outlines in the book. When I practiced the sitting mediation that he described, I felt an immediate sense of ‘coming home’, a relaxation and a groundedness that I really enjoyed. My first sit was probably only a couple of minutes but I enjoyed the practice so much that I have persisted over the last 20 years.

How do you practice usually ?

My ‘formal’ practice is to sit for 30 minutes every day in the morning. Full-lotus position. The position I have found has been quite important in helping me to develop my practice – providing me with that sense of solidness and stability that helps me to maintain attention for longer periods. The practices I normally use are the ‘three step breathing space’, watching the breath, and body scan.

I have since realised that more of the things that I do during the day can also be turned into practice…if I remember. For example, walking from one place to another can be turned into walking mindfully, eating can be turned into eating mindfully, getting up from a chair can be getting up mindfully. To do any of these things during your day, with intention, is also mindful practice. The challenge is remembering to do it with intention.