The Swinging Door of Mindfulness as Verb and Noun
What if mindfulness was far more than just “a practice”?
For many of us, the very idea of “doing mindfulness” can sound like a chore. It’s something you do—a practice of meditation, a rigid routine, or a skill you have to master. It’s an extra item on an already full to-do list, and it often comes with a secret fear that “I’m not good at this.” Plus there is likely confusion about the idea of “Mindfulness as Verb and Noun.”
But what if mindfulness isn’t just a “verb”? What if its greatest power lies in the “noun” side of the coin—the side that reveals your natural state of relaxed being, and gentle awareness?
That’s the simple idea behind: The Swinging Door of Mindfulness
Let’s take a closer look at this concept of Mindfulness as Verb and Noun:
- The act of mindfulness (the verb): Is simply the gentle nudge of the door. This is the familiar practice—the intentional act of focusing on your breath, observing a sensation, or practicing a short guided meditation. These are the tools that build your capacity for relaxed calm and mental resilience.
- The state of mindfulness (the noun): Is the relaxed openness and simple, spacious awareness that the door opens to—like a window opening to the fresh air. It’s a natural state that is already present, just waiting to be recognized. As the Zen master Shunryu Suzuki described, when we think “I breathe,” the “I” is extra; the reality is simply “breathing”. The “noun” aspect is the big benefit and power of mindfulness. This is where our simple or even-child-like state of being (basic awareness) ), where the “doer” simply merges into the effortless flow of the present moment. Your sense of “self” isn’t destroyed; rather, this experience reveals a broader understanding and experience of interconnectedness, and is in keeping with contemporary science and research on this topic.
So, what’s in this for you? Let’s explore.
Why The Mindfulness as Verb and Noun Matters for You
For seniors in particular, and actually anyone at all, this perspective changes everything. It reframes mindfulness from a rigid, demanding obligation into a gentle, accessible, and deeply personal tool.
- It frees you from the burden of perfection. You don’t have to worry about getting it “right” or meditating for a certain amount of time. Even one conscious breath can be enough to taste this state of simply being and gentle open awareness.
- It offers an antidote to stress and overthinking. Your mind is not something to be controlled or emptied. The goal is to simply relax into a natural state of awareness, letting thoughts and worries arise and fall away like passing clouds.
- It gives credibility and confidence to your experience. This isn’t just a new-age concept; it’s a deep truth found in traditions from Zen to Christian mysticism, and supported by modern neuroscience.
Want to learn more?
You are invited to learn more about the M4S approach in my full research document, where I break down this concept in detail. The accompanying audio podcast file provides a short discussion on the topic.
Or listen to a brief podcast below
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