Introduction to Mindfulness_349810_bookemon_ebook.pdf Coaching and Practising Mindfulness | Page 96

which required concentration. They were then divided into two
groups. The first group was instructed to suppress the white-bear
thoughts. The second group was given no instruction to suppress
these thoughts. Both groups were asked to hit a counter button every
time they thought of white bears while doing the other task. The
initial suppression group reported a significantly higher rate of “white
bear” thoughts during this time.
Prochaska (1992) et al in their study of how people change habitual
behaviour, note that most people go through a long contemplative
stage before they actually change. This stage is marked by
ambivalence.
Argumentation usually results in the client completing the other side
of the ambivalent equation thus maintaining a state of therapeutic
paralysis. It is reasonable to assume that the same problem exists with
the client’s internal disputation over the ambivalently regarded
behaviour. (e.g. "I have to give up smoking because I could get
cancer" receives a reply "Yes but that isn’t going to happen to me - at
least not for a long time.")

The Technique of Urge Surfing
Mindfulness allows us to bypass these problems associated with
avoidance and disputation. Instead of trying to distract from or argue
with the unpleasant thoughts, feelings or urges, mindfulness simply
makes the thoughts, feelings or urges less important. When we use
mindfulness we stay exposed to the thoughts feelings or urges for
their natural duration without feeding or repressing them.
In fact, if we just let an urge be - non judgmentally - without feeding
it or fighting it (Fighting it is just another way of feeding it anyway)
then it will crest subside and pass.
Of course they come back again but over a period of time. However
each time you overcome a bout of cravings they become less intense
and less frequent if we don't feed the urges and if we don't give in to
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