Benefits of Mindfulness

A commentary on a New York Times Article

A poignant part of this article for me is where the leader of the study is talking about nonjudgmental awareness. This is a state that seems to leave people concerned. How much judgment or nonjudgment to have in our lives. Judgment of yourself and others is good to notice if only for bringing it into your awareness so that you can remove it. As you remove it you are able to free yourself and others from the effects it has on your mind and body. Holding onto judgement can cause illness and limits your human potential.

Each judgment that you have can be reflected back to judging yourself. Since you can’t know what others are thinking or feeling your judgements are guesses based on your own experiences. It is the way you can have some control. It is this control that can lead you to hold on tightly to ideas.

Imagine your ideas being written down on small peices of paper and stuffed into your body. In order for them not to fly away you need to hold onto them very tightly. This tension can cause your body and mind to stop working because it has to focus on keeping the ideas safe. Judgment is the ideas and can keep you from experiencing your life.