We all have things that we more or less have to do in life that for most of us automatically trigger feelings of frustration, boredom, restlessness and even fear. These might include sitting in traffic, waiting in a long line at the post office, engaging in Jury Duty, arguing an erroneous charge on a bill, or being given seemingly busy work at our jobs. If we all sat in a room together, I’m sure we could make a list that could wrap around this good earth.
So what do we do?
Here’s a personal experience I’d like to share:
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wellenough
11:41 pm on
May 12th, 2010So true, thanks for the article. The red lights are now a joy to sit in most days, fun to turn it around. The STOP to see what I am feeling/doing will be useful.
Hey Elisha,
Very nice post, got me really interested, just wanted to let you know that the link to THE stop practice it’s a 404; let me know when it’s up to I can check it out.. [stream of consciousness.. Mm is this procastination not doing a site: command on google.com & finding out that article.. Mmmm] 
Johann
Hi Johann,
Thanks for letting me know this. Should be good to go now…
Gregg
10:49 am on
May 17th, 2010Hi, Elisha:
Thanks for another good post! I have a question concerning your STOP technique. I noticed that in your examples above, you speak of mindfulness being brought up in pauses throughout the day (e.g. at a red light). I was wondering if this (or another) technique can be used when actively engaged in a daily life activity where thinking/deciding is involved.
I ask because I have a serious procrastination issue that stems from anxiety. When attempting to plan an important task for the day, anxiety arises. I’m able to take a breath and examine it. However, the planning needs to get done, and when I begin planning again, the anxiety arises again!
So, how can one engage in mindfulness when discursive thought is useful and/or necessary?
Thanks for your time.
Hi Gregg,
This is a great question. Mindfulness is about being present where you are and being intentional about it. So if you need to plan, carve out some time to intentionally plan.
As anxiety arises, take a moment to practice the STOP technique http://mbsrworkbook.com/69/stop-a-short-mindfulness-practice/
and then gently redirect your mind back to planning. You may not get through as much of the planning as you would like, but now you’ve turned planning into an awareness practice and still got to move forward seeing progres.
Let us know how it goes…
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