Cincinnati Therapist Discusses Mindfulness as a Practice of Human Being and not a Human Doing
Jon Kabat-Zinn, the creator of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program, makes a helpful distinction between being a “human being” and a “human doing.” He writes,
“If we are not careful, it is all too easy to fall into becoming more of a human doing than a human being, and forget who is doing all the doing, and why.”
It is easy for me to slip into the role of a “human doing,” and it takes effort to shift into mindful presence. Yet when I do, the experiences are rich and remind me that I am not merely an assemblage of my accomplishments, but instead a human “being” navigating my way through life. In our information- and sensory-dense environments, actively moving towards being mindfully present is a radical act. The concept is simple, but the achievement is, well… revolutionary and takes practice.
One of the mindfulness practices I have been doing lately is finding a quiet place to sit for a few minutes and allow the following question to drop into my mind:
What is here now if there are no problems to solve?
Like a pebble causing ripples in a pond, this question sets forth interconnected rings of thoughts, feelings, sensations, memories, and emotions. Every time I make space and time for a practice of being with this question, something different arises, and it has become a useful way for me to better know the “human being” and “human doing” sides of myself.
Sharon Salzberg writes that mindfulness practice cultivates “the ability to look at things honestly, without so much agenda, and to have the sense of openness that allows us to continually discover the underlying truths of our lives.” With that in mind, I invite anyone reading this to just take a pause either right now or maybe later in the day to find stillness and allow this question “What is here now, if there are no problems to solve?” to drop into your mind, and observe what happens, knowing that everything is allowed–all thoughts, feelings, emotions, sensations, etc. There is no right or wrong way to do this, and your only task is to:
Pay attention to the unfolding nature of your experience
With as much focus on what is happening now in this evolving present moment
With as little judgment as possible, and when it does come up–just notice it
Mindfulness practice will not always elicit feelings of calmness or ease. Sometimes it will bring forth challenging insights and emotions. Some days you might welcome the challenges because you can see how they might propel you forward. Other times, the feelings of overwhelm may be so intense that the best thing you can do for yourself is to let the practice go, get a cup of fresh cold water, and find a soothing distraction. Regardless of your experience, each time we make a little space for mindful awareness, we tap into the present moment where we can simply experience our “human beingness.”
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The Rooted Compassion team is made up of a group of counselors who have a variety of specialties in order to best serve our clients. We recognize that every person has his/her own personal and unique life experiences and that one modality will not work for every client. Listed below is a summary of our counselors’ specialties at Rooted Compassion:
Polyvagal Theory/Nervous System Focused Therapy
Trauma Responsive Care Techniques
Grief Counseling
Somatic Focused Counseling
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Practices
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Drama Therapy/Expressive Arts
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Rooted Compassion Counseling is Ohio’s leading practice for trauma therapy through the lens of the nervous system. Our focus is to walk alongside clients as they heal from depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and/or loss. If you or someone you know are seeking to explore and build an inner sense of calm and safety, please contact us today. We would love to help you to find a counselor and counseling techniques that will guide you on your mental health journey to healing.