Introduction to Mindfulness_349810_bookemon_ebook.pdf Coaching and Practising Mindfulness | Page 45

rumination, depression, and anxiety whereas internal state awareness
negatively correlates with these variables . . . suggesting that self
reflectiveness may be a maladaptive form of self-awareness, while
internal state awareness may be neutral or adaptive" (p. 379).

2. Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a particular degree and strength of awareness. It is the
sort of awareness you have when the hindrances are weak, when the
mind is clear and bright, and when there are few thoughts.
Mindfulness (sati in Pali) is a spiritual faculty that gives you a sense of
being in charge of your mind. Instead of the hindrances dragging
your mind into the past, the future and endless thinking, you are able
to stay in the present moment and focus your mind on whatever
object you wish to focus on. This is why mindfulness is required
before meditation really takes off - only the mindful mind is able to
focus on an object at will.
Observation by Suzanne Harrill at innerworkspublishing.com:
Mindfulness comes from the Buddhist tradition and is about paying
attention to what is happening to us now, in the present moment. It
is tuning-in to all experiences, both the good-feeling ones and the
negative-feeling ones, in order to feel, learn, and know what is going
on within. Instead of shying away from the negative, we stay present
and really experience whatever is going on, just as we do when we
have fun, joyful experiences. This builds self-awareness and leads to
more aware choices in the future.
Much of the time we aren’t really paying attention to what is currently
happening to us, or to the people with whom we spend time. Instead,
we daydream about what we will do in the future or go over and over
something in our mind that happened in the past. We find ourselves
emotionally reacting to other people or situations when they surprise

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