Mindfulness and Daily Living

I had an interesting insight just now. This is something that I've been mulling over for years, but haven't been able to find an answer to; until now. And I don't know if I'm reaching these insights because I've been meditating, but get it while it's hot!

This thread is mainly about how people are able to master different fields. I've been thinking that people have been able to master different subjects because when they get trained on something, they apply themselves mindfully to a subject and then master it. This probably isn't much of a realization, but I think that the idea lacks universal application because the converse of this hasn't been studied as a control. I'm sort of giving away the end of this by saying this.

For many years, I would wonder to myself why we don't master things that we do daily sometimes. For example, why do we fat-finger things when we're always on our phones, constantly? You guessed it, the reason is because when we're on our phones, we're doing so mindlessly! So, you may be asking yourself, now that we've gotten to that realization, how can that realization help us? That realization iterates the idea that doing things mindfully is the key to everything, it seems!

To me this is a major realization. I'd appreciate your thoughts, but I'm fine to bask in this realization that has taken me a long time to develop. Your thoughts are more than welcome, though!

Or transfer to jokes as I realize it's common sense even though neuroscientists don't treat it as such. Just kidding!

I'm with you on that.

Mindfulness is vital to programming good habits into the brain, which is the point behind the saying "perfect practice makes perfect." If you're not thinking consciously and instilling in good habits and solid technique for whatever you're trying to master, you're just setting yourself up to fail.

But here's the rub. After you mindfully condition yourself to do things the right way, sometimes you don't want to keep your level of mindful attentiveness at 100%. That might be vague, so let me give you an example:

I race cars for fun. Sometimes when I'm out there lapping, I very mindfully set certain technique-oriented goals (e.g. unwind the wheel smoother on track-outs, release the brake smoother when trailing in, etc.) When I'm doing this, I want 100% mindfulness to make sure I'm conditioning myself to perform with the appropriate level of reactivity and technique.

But--the reflexive subconscious mind reacts much much faster than the conscious mindful intellect. Adding mindfulness to every action is just adding in another buffer layer that slows down reaction time in a crunch.
Once I get the technique programmed into the groove, that's when I shut mindfulness off and just let things flow.

So to use your example about typing, yeah you should be super mindful while attempting to learn the keyboard on your phone and the position/spacing between the buttons. But after you've got those good habits grooved into your mind, you should just relax and let the magic happen on its own.

a reply to: brazenalderpadrescorpio

how are people are able to master different fields

"Normal "people do have spend alot time & effort in study too learn things ,,but..

It has alot more to do with what kind of Brain damage you have,,,some forms of brain damage are more socially acceptable than others...i.e "Good" as compared to "Bad" brain damage.... & some people only have "the" mild brain damage & with others its more severe,,,

Brain injury turns average Joe into a math genius

after the injury, neurotransmitters flooded the left side of the brain and ultimately changed the structure hyper-specialized

a reply to: brazenalderpadrescorpio

I read a book by the current Dalai Lama that mindfullness should be practiced no matter what you are doing. For example, when cleaning dishes, admire the way the water sounds and flows. Admire the way bubbles form when adding soap. When drinking coffee on a patio and listening to a bird, wonder why/what they are singing.

This is the gist from what I got from that book and it made me more aware.

Cheers,

Kratos

I am here to tell you that mastering something is good, but I prefer to be more a jack of all trades…

Focusing on one thing exclusively to master it is too much like putting all your eggs in one basket.

To me.

a reply to: JonButtonIII

Thanks for that. I also thank you for your tip of letting your subconscious do the rest, it makes sense.

A side note: I was just meditating right now and letting my mind run free as I usually do (applying shinkantaza, as the Zen Buddhists call it). When my mind went to that blissful state that it normally goes to, instead of zoning out during that blissful state, I applied mindfulness. When I did this I feel that I got much more out of it than I normally did. I'm sorry for adding this in my reply to you. I just want to log it somewhere before I forget. TIA for not freaking out! Lol.

a reply to: Hoaxster

Thanks for that injection of humor. At least I think it's an injection of humor (especially considering the fact that you used a serious website as your source, lol)!

a reply to: Kratos40

Shamefully enough, lately I've been having trouble applying mindfulness in my daily life. I think that I need to learn to apply mindfulness in being a successful writer!

a reply to: intrptr

I think that that is important (to be good at a lot of things, like you said). But I was just using mastering something as a way to explain about the importance of mindfulness. Mindfulness was the real subject of my OP. And while I do agree with what you said, I've always been fascinated by people who are specialists in their field. But I kind of wonder if their brain is lacking in the opposite area of the area of their specialization. I think that that is the case with me. I'm very good at creative things, but I suck at things like math.

ETA: Actually I reread my OP, and the mistake is mine and not yours. I wrote something about the main focus of the thread was about mastering a certain field. That is a mistake. Sorry about that!

Some people get into reminding themselves to "be in the moment" in order to help them become more totally focused.
For a while I liked the idea of considering life as a prayer- like everything you do is a prayer, a statement, a deep and meaningful event. That thought alone made me enter deeply into whatever I am doing, even if it is washing the dishes!

I got an idea from something I read once, which descibed how you can problem solve, and say, repair something-
by observing what IS, NOW.... not what should be, or you want it to be.

Like say, you are looking at a car motor, and there is something going wrong with it. Instead of looking for what is wrong and thinking about the change you want to make with it, observe how it works how everything is at the moment.
Or look at a situation, and observe all details of it without judgement.

Once you have a full comprehension of how it is, then the solution becomes clear of it's own accord. You don't need to "search" in mind. This really works. I foudn a mantra to use for that- I say to myself, "Take the time". To quiet my mind, and observe only.

I've always had the ability to get my body in shape and muscled very quickly with very little exercise, which I thought might just be genetic. But after years of experimentation I realized it is not. When I try working out or running with a friend, it doesn't work. I can run hours a day with them and see no change. It is because I am distracted and talkign with them and my mind is not into it.

When I work out alone, I am focused on the sensations, the muscle movements, my heart rate.... I am visualizing what it happening within my body, and I am convinced it is that which speeds up and makes the session more efficient.

I suspect everything might work that way. It is a sort of masculine focus of attention, which I think comes easier to men than women. We might be wired more for keeping our mind on various tasks at a time, but none in depth. Which is a plus for caring for children.

a reply to: Bluesma

For me what works for applying mindfulness (obviously you are different) is to observe my thoughts that deal with whatever it is I'm doing.

A better way to describe my process is like an analysis of my thoughts as pertains that situation. It's almost like an experimentation. Does this thought work with this? How does this thought work with that one? But it all relates to that situation. Incidentally I wrote a thread about meditating this way (that is, via a sort of experimentation process).

Even though I might not be contemplating that object directly, I figure that everything is happening in my mind. I sort of have a mental block by considering the way something looks, or feels. It feels as if that well runs dry real fast.

That's just sort of the best way I can explain it. It might not make sense to someone who doesn't think like that.

a reply to: brazenalderpadrescorpio


No, I think I get it. I just consider that being introspective, and in fact was more like that for the first part of my life.
I still am, to an extent- but I do less of the analysis in the moment. I tend to do it at night, looking back at the day and remembering the various thoughts and emotions that had been brought up during the day in reaction to things.

I tend to think we all go through periods of life being more introspective or more extrospective, maybe depending upon different factors- not the least of which being the life situation which allows it!

Your learning .. try reading the unfettered mind by takuan soho it will give you further insight to mindfulness ..

a reply to: brazenalderpadrescorpio
No worries.

I agree with you too, as far as Masters of the Universe goes. Where would we be without Master composers, builders and writers?

The world is filled with beauty wrought from their well trained, disciplined minds. We should be so… refined(?). I have no problem with master craftsman, I just know I am not one of them.

ETA: I was just "thinking", mindfulness could also be compared to presence of mind and purposefulness. Mindful of others, purpose driven to help people. Careful to avoid harming them, etc. Thats goods mindfulness, what the world needs is more masters of that craft.

a reply to: Expat888

Thanks! I'll check it out.

a reply to: intrptr

I definitely think so too. We can all benefit from those types of people.