Question about Mindfulness

Brussels Sprout

So the fundamental idea about Minfulness is that there are great benefits to be had about bringing yourself into the present moment as opposed to thinking about the past, the future or daydreaming all of the time.

Why question is why exactly is this the case? Why is being in the here and now more beneficial than being in autopilot?

JuliusCaesar

All too often, people brood about the past and worry about the future. They forget to enjoy the present.


In a nutshell

take everything

It's about getting in touch with perceptions rather than cognitions about the past and future for example. Only way you can connect with your perception is to come into the present eg usually by your breath (feeling the sensation of your breath entering and leaving your body) or by getting in touch (again perceptually) with your body (eg characterising any negative emotions that you have by how they feel in your body at that point in time and letting them dissolve/pass etc).

The reason it's suggested you go from cognitions to perception is that thoughts and the narrative they set up (in particular automatic, unconscious ones) are what influence mood.

Brussels Sprout

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

All too often, people brood about the past and worry about the future. They forget to enjoy the present.

take everything wrote: »

The reason it's suggested you go from cognitions to perception is that thoughts and the narrative they set up (in particular automatic, unconscious ones) are what influence mood.

In both cases though why is it that the present moment (or perceptions) are better than cognitions about the past or future?

For example, basking in a happy memory or getting excited about an impending event would surely be better than experiencing the current moment if that moment involved pain or discomfort.

take everything

Brussels Sprout wrote: »

In both cases though why is it that the present moment (or perceptions) are better than cognitions about the past or future?

For example, basking in a happy memory or getting excited about an impending event would surely be better than experiencing the current moment if that moment involved pain or discomfort.

No what I mean is:
If you are experiencing pain (emotionally or physically) at this point in time what's recommended is you get in touch with that pain directly (perceptually and with some defining of it- ie how it can be characterised eg by what's happening in your body etc). So it's not about running away from pain or pleasure (whichever one is happening to you at that time) but in many ways engaging more fully with them, perceptually without adding extra cognitive narratives that may not be necessarily reflecting reality (and may be counterproductive).
Now remembering positive memories is a separate thing and may well mask that emotional pain (once you remain somewhat mindful of what you are doing here and if it helps i guess).

It doesn't mean that the other stuff (coming into the present and becoming conscious of what exactly is happening to you) is a worse strategy. It has been proven to work very well for people. Whatever works. But I can't comment more fully on the masking thing.

Edit: i'm aware "cognitive" can refer to both images and thought but I'm using it in the thought sense here.

slowburner

Brussels Sprout wrote: »

In both cases though why is it that the present moment (or perceptions) are better than cognitions about the past or future?

Because habitually dwelling on the past can lead to negative thoughts and feelings such as guilt and regret, and habitually anticipating the future can lead to anxiety or stress. That's an unhealthy mindset with untold negative consequences.
Living in the present doesn't preclude anyone from enjoying happy memories or looking forward to something, but if the individual has an habitual tendency to regret the past or worry about the future, then it makes sense to correct that way of thinking.
Think about it this way: some of our very best moments are when we become so absorbed by something that we become oblivious to time. In those moments, we are completely living in the present.

Taajsgpm

Brussels Sprout wrote: »

So the fundamental idea about Minfulness is that there are great benefits to be had about bringing yourself into the present moment as opposed to thinking about the past, the future or daydreaming all of the time.

Why question is why exactly is this the case? Why is being in the here and now more beneficial than being in autopilot?

Try reading "In the now" very insightful and helpful

zuluboy

Taajsgpm wrote: »

Try reading "In the now" very insightful and helpful

Is that the name of the book 'in the now', I couldn't find it...who's the author? Thanks

westwicklow

slowburner wrote: »

....some of our very best moments are when we become so absorbed by something that we become oblivious to time. In those moments, we are completely living in the present.

Thanks for putting this across so clearly.

Semele

zuluboy wrote: »

Is that the name of the book 'in the now', I couldn't find it...who's the author? Thanks

I think they might mean The Power of Now, which is a classic self help book.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Power-Now-Spiritual-Enlightenment/dp/0340733500/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415115827&sr=8-1&keywords=%27the+power+of+now%27