Posted by Jost on July 13, 2006, at 11:21:39
In reply to Re: Mindfulness lesson 1 Â » Jost, posted by Dinah on July 13, 2006, at 0:17:49
> I think that's where the bicycle metaphor comes in. You just can't try it a few times and expect it to work. You have to practice, practice, practice until it's second nature. Boring, isn't it? :)
>
> I found something I could observe without dissociating. I have always loved to sit in the bath and let water run over my hand. I can easily observe the sensations without either dissociating or commenting on them in my mind. Maybe if I can remember that feeling, I can hold on to it when my inclination is to step outside of myself to observe or describe.
>
> Or wait. Maybe that's participating.
Looking at the "observing/describing/participating page last night, I was trying to decide if they weren't almost the same thing. Maybe not describing, but observing and participating.If I'm really observing I'm also participating-- not necessarily by actively doing anything. I'm very involved in the moment, and whatever is happening. If I were going to interact or act, I might observe less, and put more of myself into simply doing or saying the thing--
I was thinking about walking through the park. I can be observing the wind, the grass, the people around me-- but where does that become participating?
Maybe when something more disturbing happens-- they become more distinct. Then I would want to observe more, if only to participate in a better way, but being able to move into observing while I'm in the situation? Is there a way of knowing how to observe well enough that you do it, but put it to the side, and participate, while being somewhat in touch with the observing?
So I was trying to figure out if they're supposed to be distinct activities, or to be complementary, or partly flow into one another--
Describing is the most distanced, to me, because I'm searching mentally for words that fit the thing, and that takes me away from it, bringing me to a more abstract place.
Jost
poster:Jost
thread:624046
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060703/msgs/666684.html