"Notice" is a term commonly and often used whenever you get yourself into studying/practicing meditation, Buddhism and yoga. But what does "notice" really mean? And how to know when and where to notice? And how to add that practice to your daily life?
So first let's recapture the meaning of the term "mindfulness". Despite being a widely used and simple concept, mindfulness is a challenging practice evolved around the idea of oneself paying attention to - noticing - the present moment. In other words, one needs to become "aware" and in order to do so one needs to first "notice" which is seem as the action of deliberate paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and in a non-judgmental way.
Jon Kabat-Zinn at http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/mindfulness.htm
Noticing in this case should happen on purpose and it should be a conscious act where feelings and thoughts are curiously observed as "events in the mind, without over-identifying with them, and without reacting to them in an automatic, habitual pattern of reactivity" [New Jersey Center for Mindful Awareness]. The observance should be non-attached where one observers his own thoughts and feelings; however, does not allow himself to get immersed in and/or overwhelmed by them.
By noticing feelings and thoughts one may discover and explore a whole new world that is presented to him where intuition, observance and acceptance play a main role on the path of mindful awareness and mindful living.
We can use our thoughts — not in order to make decisions, or to take positions, but in order to bring into consciousness the way things are, the way of our own existence on planet Earth as human beings. Using thoughtful reflection helps us to be intuitive, to observe and to accept. If we don’t develop this ability, we end up making very harsh value judgments about ourselves and the world. [Ajahn Sumedho at We need to put ourselves into perspective]
Since we are born we are taught to behave and think in a way to help us achieve goals and become something/somebody worthy to the society. Most of the time we are taught that feelings are a sign of weakness and that thoughts are only worthy if and when they have a purpose. We learn that in order to find joy in our lives we need to behave in a certain way and work hard to become a well established individual even if that costs you the time to simply be. What we are not taught, though, is that human beings are made of thoughts and feelings and that our bodies are nothing but shells created by nature and the universe used to carry the results of one's every-day thoughts and feelings.
The world is so full of bodies, but in reality there is only one — that of nature herself whose chain of being and substance is what made us — rather than any act of heroic will or intellectual choice. Every bit of us and every bit of everything else on this world of ours is indissolubly linked. [John Aske at The Enlightened Body]
Space is created between the body (shell) and the mind whenever one is able to create and practice awareness by noticing his own every day thoughts and feelings. And it is within this space that one will then start reflecting more mindfully about life events, therefore, being able to take, accept and let go of the every day life "unpleasantness". By noticing "why you feel it", "how you feel it", and "where you feel it" one is able to understand the present moment - the right now - and by understanding such one is more inclined to accept the facts with more clarity and more willingness and no longer see himself as a victim or a judge but as an active participant to his own thoughts and feelings at this very moment. In other words, one understands the preciousness of taking the time to pause, notice, let it be (awareness) and let it go (acceptance).
Pain, disease, fear, desire, depression, despair, worry—when we allow ourselves to feel these things fully, then we are not caught in the conditions that cause suffering; we are actually transcending suffering. In our willingness to feel and witness the way things are, in those moments where there is pure awareness and acceptance, there is no suffering. Suffering is what we create out of our own ignorance. [Ajahn Sumedho at We need to put ourselves into perspective]
Noticing will then make one more open towards himself which then will lead to openness to life itself. When you are open to life the "unpleasantness" will then give space to awareness where one notices "why he feels it", "how he feels it", and "where he feels it". By being able to answer these three questions one then starts to take the present moment as it is and not how it should - or how he thought it should - be.
If our hearts are ready for anything, we are free to be ourselves. There’s room for the wildness of our animal selves, for passion and play. There’s room for our human selves, for intimacy and understanding, creativity and productivity. There’s room for spirit, for the light of awareness to suffuse our moments. [Tara Brach at A Heart That Is Ready For Anything]
Try answering these three questions today, right now at this very moment and do so on purpose, with an open and awaken mind and without any judgment. Once you are able to answer these questions honestly and openly you will find yourself one step closer to acceptance, awareness and to mindful living.
* Why do I feel___________?
* How do I feel it?
* Where do I feel it?
Pausing is also the gateway to Radical Acceptance. In the midst of a pause, we are giving room and attention to the life that is always streaming through us, the life that is habitually overlooked. It is in this rest that we realize the natural freedom of our heart and awareness. This is not something we need to look for; it’s right here. We need only commit ourselves to arriving, here and now, with wholehearted presence—and it naturally finds us. [Tara Brach at Freedom Finds Us When We Pause]
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