We live in a culture of achievement so naturally we are all curious about how to achieve mindfulness. For many years I believed that there would come a day when mindfulness would click in permanently and would be unshakeable thereafter. I have come to understand achievement differently when it comes to mindfulness and how that understanding also reflects life. Mindfulness, or paying attention to the present moment is a universal experience but needs to be continuously cultivated in order to sustain it. In addition, there are degrees of mindfulness that continue to unfold with practice. Even after many years of practice I continue to notice nuances about the present moment and how it relates to me. I have come to the conclusion that there is no end to the unfolding of mindfulness and that we never get “there” because “there” continues to change and unfold from moment to moment. This is good news as it offers us an opportunity to see things in a new way from moment to moment and allows us to grow in how we experience life.
What does it take to continuously cultivate mindfulness? I have discovered that the answer to that question is…it depends. In fact I find myself using that answer more and more, particularly as it relates to mindfulness but also in life. One example would be environment. I think environment/ culture plays a big role in what it takes to sustain mindfulness. If we are living in a modern, technologically based society it takes much more practice than if we were living in a culture that was more in contact with it’s roots….their culture’s roots, individual and earth roots. Living in a culture/environment like that affords us the opportunity to be present more easily as it allows for our natural experience to express itself. That natural experience has the present moment as it’s rudder. The further we get away from that natural experience, the more practice it takes to sustain it. The good news is.. regardless of situation there is always the opportunity to connect with the present moment.