Justified Anger and Breathing

So what would happen if, instead of acting on that impulse to call him another 14 times, you took a deep breath!  How would it feel if you did NOT respond to that awful emotional pain?

The real idea is that sometimes it is appropriate to get angry - when you see an injustice, it is appropriate to respond to your anger in a constructive way.  But if you anger is not justified, if you are angry at your ex's new partner because she has a partner and you don't, that's not a reason to stalk your ex.

Anger can be constructive.  Anger can help you focus and clearly reach that goal.  Sometimes the anger is so intense that there is no clarity in thinking.  That's when the breathing comes in.  It's important to remember you always have that very effective tool to help lower the intensity of those excruciating emotions.

Breath.  Think about not acting on that emotion.  Think about the steps you can take to sit with the anger until the intensity lowers enough so that you don't act on the impulse you're chewing on.

observing v. sensing

Being present with the experience requires understanding the difference between observing which implies standing outside of the event and being fully within what is happening by sensing.  So the instruction is better if it is stated: "sense your breath, not observe."

The difference is that if you are simply observing an activity in which you are participating, you are not fully in that event; however, if you are sensing the breath you are aware of the  impact of the activity to the extent that you are fully within the experience.  When this feeling occurs, you are completely inside what is happening to your body without judging.

Another Weekend with the "gurus" of MIndfulness

At the current Jack Kornfeld, Daniel Siegel mindfulness brainwashing - not really it's just that this topic has become so popular that it almost feels like the McDonald's of "good thinking".  Isn't it more important to maintain awareness of self and others in a neutral fashion? 

As I attempt to express my skepticism about the popularism of the mindful "movement" I find that each word I attempt to use is one more reflection of what I know about mindfulness - to maintain awareness without judgment and there I go again using those words which are fundamental to holding a "mindful" state of mind.

So even in my desire to be skeptical and rejecting of this honest, caring manner of communicating and connecting I am so immersed in the whole body of mindful thinking that I cannot discuss my own personal mindset without using the fundamental terms: non-judgmental, staying present - one mindfully in the moment.