Tag: Relaxed Mindfulness

  • When the Stories Fall Away

    When the Stories Fall Away


    When the Stories Fall Away

    What if we set aside our stories for just a moment or two?


    Dear friends,

    So often we get wrapped up in the stories we tell ourselves. You know the ones—big and grand, small and hurtful, or even the hum of little thoughts filling our days—raising our spirits, weighing us down, or something more subtle in-between. But when we hold on too tightly, or get caught in this sticky web of our own making, we forget the simple, unadorned life that’s happening right here… right now.

    But what if, just for a breath, we set those stories aside? I am not suggesting we throw those thoughts away, or ignore every problem that arises. This is simply an inquiry and invitation. What if we gently lay our thoughts and preferences aside for a moment, setting them down beside us? What if, in their absence, we simply take in the view? And allow ourselves a pause—to let the world in, just as it is in this very moment? Like resting by the side of the road, setting down our heavy load.

    In that pause, something beautiful can open.
    The heart can soften.
    The senses can come alive.
    And a world of wonder is right here, ever ready to meet us.

    Just relax your mind.
    Loosen your grasp.
    Let the stories fall away.

    Let this very moment pour into your senses.
    Pull back the curtain.
    Let the color of life be revealed.

    Like waves, let your stories gently recede.
Relax your grasp--
Natural Awe!

    A Closing Reflection

    Remember, the stories will always return. That’s just the way of the mind. But you don’t have to be tangled in them all the time. You can set them down again—anytime, over and over. And in doing so, you may discover something simple and precious: the freedom of just being here, right now, in this very moment, meeting life just as it is.

    In deep gratitude.

  • Mindfulness as Verb and Noun

    Mindfulness as Verb and Noun


    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.
    Mindfulness as Verb and Noun. The simple secret is both!
    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.

    Link to Full Research PDF >

    Or listen to a brief podcast below

    Works cited

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