Blog 4

My only experiences with mindfulness have involved food and a large group of people.  A behavioral camp that I worked at as a counselor over the summer included mindfulness in one of the lesson plans.  The kids had to focus on a piece of candy.  First, they concentrated on the appearance, next the texture and eventually the campers were allowed to taste the candy.  In preparation for the mindfulness class, the adults participated in a similar activity involving raisins.  Based on the information I received, I thought that mindfulness was a technique allowing a person to focus wholly on one thing.  I was also under the assumption that the practice was used to take a person’s mind off of worries by thinking about something else.  I guess I was a little bit off from the real purpose of the technique.

Now that I have a better idea of what mindfulness is used for, I believe that it can be very valuable to me on both a personal and professional level.  Just as Felicity first tried to do, I usually attempt to think more rationally when I am upset.  For example, if I am mad at my boyfriend for not washing the dishes, I tell my self “Do not complain about it. Do not overreact. It is not a big deal. Suggest washing them together.”  After my pep talk, however, I almost always end up overreacting anyways.  I have never tried to simply sit with and think about my anger because I am too busy attempting to find solutions to potential problems my anger may cause.  Next time I feel upset or anxious, I will allow myself to reflect on what I am feeling and see if it makes a difference in the diffusion of my negative emotions.

Professionally, I can already see how mindfulness will be useful as well.  After my group interview for grad school, I remember thinking “I hope it didn’t look like I was just waiting to ask the next question.”  Now that I am in class, I try hard to focus only on what the person speaking is saying, but it can be difficult at times.  I find myself torn at certain points between giving the speaker my full attention and reflecting on how I want to answer the question.  I will remind myself to listen to the person speaking, but even that reminder can be a distraction.  Once I am a school counselor, I need to make sure that I am giving the kids my undivided attention and mindfulness may be one helpful practice in accomplishing that.  Mindfulness is definitely a technique that I want to learn more about, especially if I discover that it works for me.

Luan Khong, B. S., (2007). The Buddha’s influence in the therapy room. Hakomi Forum, 18, 11-18.