Fool’s Business

By Pavel G. Somov, Ph.D.

mindfulness definition Clients often ask: “What is mindfulness?” Most of the time I avoid the fool’s business of providing definitions. Definitions finalize. Descriptions leave the subject open to futher descriptions.

- So, what is mindfulness?

Here’s a description (one of hundreds):

When you stop filtering What Is (i.e. Reality) into important and unimportant, relevant and irrelevant, all of a sudden: everything is indescribably important, everything is indescribably relevant.

≈

Is the swaying of this tree over here important?

- Yes.

Why?

- Unimportant.

What about the non-swaying of that tree over there, is that too relevant?

- Yes.

Why?

- Irrelevant.

≈

Birch trees photo available from Shutterstock

Pavel Somov, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and the author of "Eating the Moment" (New Harbinger, 2008), "Present Perfect" (NH, 2010), "The Lotus Effect" (NH, 2010), "Smoke Free Smoke Break" (2011), and "Reinventing the Meal" (2012). He is in private practice in Pittsburgh, PA. His book website is www.eatingthemoment.com

Marla Somova, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in private practice and an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the co-author of "Smoke Free Smoke Break" (2011).

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Last reviewed: 21 Dec 2012

APA Reference
Somov, P. (2012). Fool’s Business. Psych Central. Retrieved on May 23, 2013, from http://blogs.psychcentral.com/mindful-living/2012/12/fools-business/