If we think carefully there are subtle differences between self-awareness and mindfulness. Self-awareness gives us an understanding of what we are doing, of our strengths and weaknesses, of our likes and dislikes, of our personality, of our emotions. It is subjective. Mindfulness gives us realization and recall. It is a form of awareness but is analytically giving us observation without judgment. It is objective.
Our world today is developing rapidly and our minds may be racing to keep up with it. Consequently, our self-aware thinking is also trying to keep up. We need this, but we also need to be aware of the emotional pressures induced by subjectivity and whether we are equipped to deal with them. We can feel emotions. We know what we are feeling, but, does our self-awareness tell us why? If we do not self-realize the why, the emotional thinking may inhibit us from action through fear created by over judgment of our feelings. We must avoid letting in any such negative thinking. If we do not control our selves we cannot control our actions that define our destiny.
We need a balance to complete our wisdom. We need a step back, wait a moment, analytical view. The mindfulness concept originates from Buddhism. Whether considered an art or science it gives us a presence in the moment using knowledge from recall and realization to assess that moment without judgment. Just get the facts!
While the concept is simple, implementing it is challenging and requires self-discipline. It requires a focused attention on the moment you are experiencing without passing judgment based on any subjective thoughts or feelings. Unemotionally observe what is happening both in your mind and externally.
Mindfulness training describes the mind as a machine for judgment. It is our nature that we form instant judgments on situations. It is often said that we assess a new contact within the first few seconds. This is a legacy from our prehistory where constant struggles of life and death resulted in a need for snap fight or flight decisions. Nowadays it is emotion that is more prevalent in forming judgments on experiences, defining them as good or bad. While neutral feelings exist they are not uppermost in our attention as they do not feed the emotions. Mindfulness encourages us to observe all things with the same level of attention but without passing judgment.
This attitude gives us a refreshed clean mind that is rational in its actions as it is uninfluenced by other factors. An example is shown by the following mindfulness exercise: The next time you meet someone you know try to see him or her through fresh eyes. Try to suspend all of your existing knowledge, thoughts and opinions. Try it with family members, close friends and colleagues. Do you see them differently, removing previous possibly inaccurate concepts?
One of the most important benefits of mindfulness in terms of personal contentment and success comes from the realization that you are thinking something that is unhelpful or unrealistic, something negative. Mindfulness means learning to experience your thoughts without passing judgment with emotion but instead assessing the realism of the experience. Many of the negative thoughts you experience when you are emotionally upset tend to be distorted and unhelpful. So let these thoughts go, identifying them as natural symptoms of a particular emotional state, replacing them with thoughts of just determining the fact. Thoughts and emotions work together. The sooner you come to the point where you can view them objectively the better your personal feelings will become.
Increasing your familiarity with the thoughts that enter your head when you feel depressed will make it easier for you to recognize them as emotions rather than facts. Once you have become familiar with the dark side of emotions you are further equipped to cope, manage and remove negative thoughts in reality.
by John Doidge
John Doidge has a science background leading him to a fascination and curiosity about the whole package of the universe and how the mind interacts with the physical within it. By understanding our relationship with nature the aim is to aid our mental development to fulfilment, with belief through knowledge. If you wish to continue your journey of exploration into developing your mind for enhanced confidence, resourcefulness and success visit http://www.killnegative.com
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Self-Awareness-and-Mindfulness/224268
