What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness can help us:
(slow down OR speed up) and
(increase OR decrease) attention.
slow down
and increase attention
This state of mind is known for feeling “hot” and ruled by feelings and urges.
Emotion Mind
Fully throwing yourself into the present moment is an example of this “what” skill.
TRUE or FALSE: When we notice ourselves judging our judging, we should practice being non-judgmental toward ourselves.
TRUE: Being non-judgmental applies to ourselves too.
TRUE or FALSE: Mindfulness can improve your health.
TRUE: By lessening your pain, tension, and stress, mindfulness can improve your health.
Name 2 things mindfulness can increase our awareness of.
thoughts, feelings, urges, sensations, surroundings
This state of mind is known for feeling “cool” and is ruled by facts.
Reasonable/Logic Mind
Labeling is an example of this “what” skill.
describe
TRUE or FALSE: The goal of mindfulness is to stop making judgments forever.
FALSE: We cannot stop all judgments (we’re human!), and we can learn to catch our judgments and replace them with descriptions.
You are probably in this state of mind if you are doing what works.
Wise Mind
Another way to define mindfulness is paying attention or noticing things in the ______ moment.
the present moment
This state of mind helps us think more clearly to make the best decisions.
Wise Mind
TRUE or FALSE: When observing our thoughts, we want to hold onto them for as long as possible to analyze them if they are pleasant or push them away if they are unpleasant.
FALSE: We want to allow our thoughts and feelings to come into our mind and float out without holding onto them or forcefully pushing them away.
Being effective, which usually means playing by the rules, is also known as this “how” skill.
Do What Works
Name your favorite mindfulness exercise and explain why you like it.
many acceptable answers
If an ambulance goes by and we quickly turn towards the sound, we probably did not do this part of mindfulness.
This is the state of mind we usually are in during an argument (at least initially).
Emotion Mind
Using all five senses is an example of this “what” skill.
observe
Describing just the facts helps us with this “how” skill.
don't judge
(being non-judgmental)
Using the phrase “I notice the thought that…” helps with this “what” skills.
Describe
Describe the leaves on the stream/train on the track metaphor of being mindful without attachment.
We let the leaf/train go at its natural pace.
We don't try to speed it up to get rid of it.
We don't try to slow it down to keep it around.
Give an example of a skill you can use to help move towards Wise Mind when in an upsetting situation.
many acceptable answers
(e.g., STOP, ACCEPTS, IMPROVE, etc.)
The “observe” what skill involves this kind of watching.
wordless watching
The “how” skill of staying focused and not multi-tasking is also known as this number-related term.
One-mindfully
Willingness can especially help with this “what” skill and this “how” skill.
Participate and Do What Works
(may accept other well-reasoned responses)