About Mindfulness & Travel
I use the word mindful in two ways. On one level I mean mindfulness or meditation practice. Mindfulness helps you appreciate your experience with all your senses. But I'm also using “mindful” as being thoughtful and strategic about travel. It helps to structure your travel to get the most satisfaction.
Many people don't associate Mindfulness with travel. They're not sure that mindfulness applies to travel. Some may see travel, with all it's activity and distractions, as a disturbance and distraction from mindfulness. You may be surprised that mindfulness and travel actually can go together.
Many people don't associate Mindfulness with travel. They're not sure that mindfulness applies to travel. Some may see travel, with all it's activity and distractions, as a disturbance and distraction from mindfulness. You may be surprised that mindfulness and travel actually can go together.
Experience Life’s Richness!
Being a traveler and a meditator has caused me to realize a few things. Mindfulness helps me:
Definitions of Mindfulness
- Observe better with all my senses
- Fully meet other people
- Experience my travel experience more deeply
Mindfulness asked us to stop, to pause, and to let go of our normal thinking patterns. How does that help us appreciate travel? As I have blogged previously, mindfulness deepens one's understanding and appreciation of a place and its people. Also, by slowing down, you have the time to fully appreciate all of your senses.
Media Distortion?
Media Distortion?
Mindfulness is a popular topic in the media today. It is advocated for everybody! It’s for stressed-out executives and stressed-out moms. It can help athletes and P.T.S.D. veterans. (So far, pet mindfulness hasn’t happened yet, although there is goat yoga!)
As an experienced teacher of mindfulness and meditation, I think some of those articles are helpful, while others are not. Some articles “oversell” mindfulness. It is not for everybody; and certainly is not therapy. I advocate practical, travel-friendly applications that work, even for beginners. Yet there is a large amount of research that indicates benefits in many areas.
Definitions of Mindfulness
What exactly is the definition of mindfulness? Note the similarities in definitions by three well-regarded research teams:
- Keeping one's complete attention to the experience on a moment to moment basis (Martlett & Kristeller, 1999).
- The awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment to moment (Kabat-Zinn, 2003).
- The non-judgmental observation of the ongoing stream of internal and external stimuli as they arise (Baer, 2003).
If you observe your experience, in the moment and without judgement, what benefits accrue? Mindfulness teaches us to direct our attention. It teaches us how thoughts hijack our attention and captivate our thinking. It gives us greater clarity and awareness about our habitual thought patterns. We see how our thoughts limit our view of reality. We learn to recognize our "reflex" of judgment and relax. It also gives us the opportunity to stop believing every thought we have is "absolute truth."
The Psychological & Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) Benefits:
The Psychological & Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) Benefits:
- Fosters positive emotions
- Helps provide resilience against negative experiences
- Increased concentration and focus
- Can be used with goals, setting intentions, analysis, or contemplation
Mindfulness is not always well-understood. It's important to prevent any distortion or misunderstanding. Mindfulness should NOT be "misused" in the following ways:
Some people might be under the illusion that mindfulness is going to eliminate all conflict, bad thinking, and negative behavior. It is not a panacea, but a set of techniques and skills. It doesn't eliminate stress, but can help most people deal with it in a healthy manner.
Our brains will never stop thinking thoughts, because that's what a brain does! Your mind wants you to pay attention to the gripping worst-case scenario it concocts. Mindfulness focuses your attention. Mindfulness helps you decide the importance you attach to those thoughts. Then you can let them go.
Mindfulness is an easy, low-cost practice
Coronavirus Disclaimer
- A "substitute" for therapy. Never!
- Judgmental (no need to be "right" or perfect.)
- Forcing Religion* or proselytizing
- Forcing people to practice Mindfulness
- Used to excuse abusive situations
- Eliminating all thoughts
- Requiring new-age music or incense! 😏
Some people might be under the illusion that mindfulness is going to eliminate all conflict, bad thinking, and negative behavior. It is not a panacea, but a set of techniques and skills. It doesn't eliminate stress, but can help most people deal with it in a healthy manner.
Our brains will never stop thinking thoughts, because that's what a brain does! Your mind wants you to pay attention to the gripping worst-case scenario it concocts. Mindfulness focuses your attention. Mindfulness helps you decide the importance you attach to those thoughts. Then you can let them go.
Mindfulness is an easy, low-cost practice
- No special room or equipment -- chairs are OK
- No gym or showers
- You can sit at a desk
- Can be done sitting, walking, or with movement
Coronavirus Disclaimer
Of course, in these days of Covid-19, I don't suggest booking travel immediately. Be "mindful" of risk factors (State Department Advisory). Once the Coronavirus caution has passed, you will again remember your bucket list of lifetime goals and want to travel again. (If you haven't see my previous post on Covid-19, take a look. I continue to monitor multiple sources: State Department, CDC, and many Travel Industry sites.)
Eventually ... you will again think about travel. Please visit my website: https://sites.google.com/view/mindfultraveler/
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