Favorite Inspiring Quotes
Mindfulness
Commentary by Peter Shepherd

“We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery.” ~ H. G. Wells
Sometimes it’s good to take a few moments, breathe consciously and be aware of what we’re feeling, thinking and doing. Then we can choose instead of continuing on automatic. Get off the time machine.
“Mindfulness is paying attention, on purpose, non-judgmentally, in the present moment.” ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn
Getting the picture, rather than agreeing or disagreeing, liking or not liking. Then, uninfluenced by fears, responding consciously rather than reacting.
“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” ~ James Baraz
We need our past experience for the learning it offers; we don’t need it to cling on to regrets or blame, that changes nothing. We need our future to make plans; we don’t need it to worry about what might happen, that changes nothing. Like an artist creating a painting, we put our life together in the present moment.
Here’s some further reading on this theme...
Wide-Angle Perspective ~ by Charlie Badenhop
When you are experiencing stress you lose your sense of context (circumstances and setting), proportion (the relationship of one “thing” to another), and scale (the relative size of one “thing” compared to another). The more exaggerated or out of whack these three components of your experience are, the more you will experience anxiety, fear, and stress. So what to do? Continues...