Mindfulness is a positive quality that we can develop in our lives by practice. Positive traits tend to help not only yourself but others, too.
It is not so obvious how such personal thing as mindfulness can influence other people lives. There are other personal qualities like health, which benefits others by you being alive and well, and being able to enjoy your company. But not everyone enjoys your company. There are people who rather dislike you and do not wish you well.
Mindfulness is of universal benefit to all people around you. Even those that hate you. I could argue that your mindfulness benefits haters as much as you, and even more than neutral people. Let me analyze this thought.
Your family benefits greatly when you spend your time with them. Being present for them is the best gift you can give them. As Thich Nhat Hanh says "The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers."
Your friends have similar benefits, as your family. You can give them your full attention in that short time you spend together (as opposed to the time you spend with your family and your colleagues).
Your colleagues are treated with more kindness and patience. Even those that you do not like too much, with mindfulness you develop compassion and you can understand their problems better. You learn to live with them, and not to dislike. Dislike is judgmental and it is not in line with mindfulness. You can not be both mindful and judgmental. By practicing mindfulness you will bring a note of unity in your workplace and it will not go unnoticed. You will make better conversations, listen better and develop genuine interest in your associates.
People that do not know you that you meet in everyday life can benefit, too. You can help someone you would not even notice without paying attention. There are people we pass by every day that could use our help. We mostly do not even look at them. You might even converse with a stranger in public transport without feeling like a madman. Mindfulness will help you understand that we all share this moment on our small planet and that we have a lot in common. What are the odds that two of you would share a same bus in this infinite universe?
When you practice mindfulness always have in mind that you are making a positive impact on yourself and your environment. Your family, friends, colleagues and strangers have immediate benefits from it. That should give you incentive for continuing practice of mindfulness meditation. During the practice picture the people in your mind that will benefit from better you. Do this for a minute and then continue with usual practice.
It is important to be present around people. Only that way you can really communicate with them, understand them and be compassionate. If you paint a picture in your head before you even meet the person, you will most likely make a mistake. If the person is not wielding a knife or gun it is safe to say that all options are open. Who knows, a guy with a knife can be a butcher in butcher shop, and a guy with a gun a police officer who helps a kid to find a way home. Below the preconditioned mind there is a layer of intuition. We can rely on our intuition that it will make a safe decision in dangerous situations. It is a mechanism that is perfected for thousands years. It is so "good" that now we run from discomfort and fear we will lose money, instead of running from a lion for our lives. If you are very frightened, acknowledge it immediately and do what is necessary (run, hide or fight). In all other cases of high anxiety and fear it is usually your mind that is projecting a story.
Conclusion is that mindfulness is a skill that is beneficial to many people around you. This alone should motivate you to be present in the moment. Wherever you go try to remember to be mindful. That is really the hardest part. It comes with practice. For me, I still am not very present around people, but with time I noticed that I listen better and have a bit better concentration.
Voice in the comments section your thoughts about benefits of mindfulness!
Your friends have similar benefits, as your family. You can give them your full attention in that short time you spend together (as opposed to the time you spend with your family and your colleagues).
Your colleagues are treated with more kindness and patience. Even those that you do not like too much, with mindfulness you develop compassion and you can understand their problems better. You learn to live with them, and not to dislike. Dislike is judgmental and it is not in line with mindfulness. You can not be both mindful and judgmental. By practicing mindfulness you will bring a note of unity in your workplace and it will not go unnoticed. You will make better conversations, listen better and develop genuine interest in your associates.
People that do not know you that you meet in everyday life can benefit, too. You can help someone you would not even notice without paying attention. There are people we pass by every day that could use our help. We mostly do not even look at them. You might even converse with a stranger in public transport without feeling like a madman. Mindfulness will help you understand that we all share this moment on our small planet and that we have a lot in common. What are the odds that two of you would share a same bus in this infinite universe?
When you practice mindfulness always have in mind that you are making a positive impact on yourself and your environment. Your family, friends, colleagues and strangers have immediate benefits from it. That should give you incentive for continuing practice of mindfulness meditation. During the practice picture the people in your mind that will benefit from better you. Do this for a minute and then continue with usual practice.
It is important to be present around people. Only that way you can really communicate with them, understand them and be compassionate. If you paint a picture in your head before you even meet the person, you will most likely make a mistake. If the person is not wielding a knife or gun it is safe to say that all options are open. Who knows, a guy with a knife can be a butcher in butcher shop, and a guy with a gun a police officer who helps a kid to find a way home. Below the preconditioned mind there is a layer of intuition. We can rely on our intuition that it will make a safe decision in dangerous situations. It is a mechanism that is perfected for thousands years. It is so "good" that now we run from discomfort and fear we will lose money, instead of running from a lion for our lives. If you are very frightened, acknowledge it immediately and do what is necessary (run, hide or fight). In all other cases of high anxiety and fear it is usually your mind that is projecting a story.
Conclusion is that mindfulness is a skill that is beneficial to many people around you. This alone should motivate you to be present in the moment. Wherever you go try to remember to be mindful. That is really the hardest part. It comes with practice. For me, I still am not very present around people, but with time I noticed that I listen better and have a bit better concentration.
Voice in the comments section your thoughts about benefits of mindfulness!
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