5 Mindfulness Quotes That Help Define Its Essence
Mindfulness is about learning—constant, day-to-day learning about ourselves, others, and how we are all connected. The quotes we've chosen below are to help you learn more of what mindfulness is about.
Consider each quote carefully, and think about what it means for you personally. How can you apply its wisdom to your own experiences? What do they suggest to you about mindfulness that you may not have realized before?
“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.”
This one pretty much speaks for itself. One of the core characteristics of mindfulness is the acceptance that it's the present moment, the here and now, that matters more than any other time. But why?
Simply put, this moment, the present, is the only moment we have control over. It is when we can make the choices that define our experiences, and affect the changes that can transform our lives. It is the time in which we can see clearly everything around us for what it is, and perceive what it could be.
Our past is unchangeable, and our future is unknowable. It is only the present moment that we can truly exercise the influence and control we have over our existence.
“That’s life: starting over, one breath at a time.”
Here's an interesting idea related to our awareness of the present: could you treat each moment, each breath you take, as a chance to see everything anew?
So many times each day, we have the chance to begin all over again; to see with fresh eyes, hear with new ears, and think with more open minds. Amit Ray similarly instructed, "Open the window of your mind, allow the fresh air, new lights and new truths to enter."
It's a simple thing to do, but not easy. Any facet of mindfulness takes effort to practice, after all. And what is being asked of us here is nothing less than a near-total restructuring of our awareness of what it means to live and interact in the world.
Regardless, simply imagine for a moment what it would be like to perceive everything in a new light, every day, each moment. Would it be exhausting, or invigorating? Would it be risky, or safe to do? Would it bring you more anxieties, or a new refreshed sense of peace?
We'll leave that to you to decide.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
In Zen and mindfulness, we often look to the examples set by nature to guide us in our practices. As in the beliefs of Shinto, nature is regarded as our first best model for living wisdom.
Does anything really get accomplished when we hurry, or at least get accomplished faster? Perhaps, but there is a price we pay for this perceived gaining of time by hurrying, and it begins with our mental state as we submit to our artificial need to quicken the pace.
Think of your state of mind when you are hurrying. You are anxious, stressed, irritable, perhaps even afraid. After all, you'll be late for the party if you don't hurry up; you have to get your kids out the door so you can have a few minutes peace; you have to get that last honey cruller before someone else does; and what happens to your job if you miss that deadline?
What we need to understand is that our responses to these situations are largely conditioned within us by the society we live in. Our culture measures the success of the individual by how hard and how long they can push themselves, and what they can attain or achieve ahead of others.
We live in fast-paced work and life environments in which everything is go go go, and where we can get what we want at a mouse click. As such, even when we do accomplish things through hurrying, we end up only rushing to fill that extra time up with the next thing, and the next.
Slowing down and realizing what is truly fundamental to a happy, peaceful life—vitality, healthy relationships, perfect self-expression—is not accomplished through hurrying. Like planting seeds in the soil of nature, these things take patience and care to grow to fruition.
“Mindfulness is a pause, the space between stimulus and response. That’s where choice lies.”
Mindfulness takes into consideration our awareness of the present moment, but also how or if we choose to respond to what occurs. It is, as the above quote suggests, the space between them in which we make the choice to be mindful.
Think of something that happened to you recently that sticks in your mind. Don't label it as either good or bad, but simply observe it for what it was.
How did you respond to your stimulus in that moment?
Can you recall why you chose to respond in that way?
How did it leave you feeling afterward?
In retrospect, what could you have done differently, if anything?
The point of this exercise isn't to dig up the past or to blame anyone, including yourself. The truth is, with mindfulness, every moment of our lives becomes a teachable moment. It becomes a time for us to practice valuable self-awareness.
“Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?”
This is a mindfulness tactic that you can use for life, and using it well can change your life.
This quote assumes (possibly) that the reader finds themselves in the uncomfortable situation of being emotionally or intellectually challenged, either directly or indirectly. Our verbal response is cued up, and we're about to let it rip.
But before we do this, can we honour these three gates of self-awareness? Is what we want to say true and kind, or even need to be said at all?
Think of it this way: this situation puts you in a place of responsibility. You are in the driver's seat for your peace of mind and your sense of compassion. Regardless of whether or not you take exception to what someone says and the instinct might be to offer an inflamed response, mindfulness calls upon us first to look inward, as we should.
You can learn to go even deeper with this one as an example:
Is it TRUE?
How do you know?
Are you willing to let your truth be challenged?
If not, why?
Is it KIND?
If someone said this to you, how would you feel?
Is this coming from your anger or fear of something?
Is saying this helping you or others be better?
Are you willing to accept the consequences of saying this?
Is it NECESSARY?
Why do you think so?
Is there any benefit to anyone in you sharing this?
If left unsaid, would it make any difference?
Is there something more helpful or constructive that can be offered in lieu of this?
We could go far more in depth with such considerations, but the idea is to consider our words carefully, and realize they have the power to both build and tear down in equal measure.
People are complicated; we have big feelings and often strong opinions. The thing we don't want to do is allow these things to sour the interactions we have with others. After all, you can learn to manage feelings and hold opinions without harming others.
