In the first lecture we talked about the definition of mindfulness, and identified some key ways that our attention shifts gears when we're being mindful. Through this definition it was pointed out that the attitude with which we approach our experience really matters. And we discussed the importance of trying to meet our reality with an open mind. But open-mindedness is just one quality that's interesting to explore in and through our practice. There's so many other aspects of mindfulness that deserve our attention. And once you've learned what they are, and get some idea for how you can begin to apply them in your daily life, I feel pretty confident that you'll start to see why so many people talk about the practice of mindfulness as being life-altering. In this lecture we're going to discuss seven additional qualities or attitudinal foundations that are fundamental to the practice. Keeping the attitudes in mind as you move through various experiences in your day is a critical part of the training. These qualities provide us with a strong foundation for our awareness. And they give us guidance for how to channel our energies in the process of learning who we are, and how we want to develop. And as you'll see, some of them will come more naturally for you than others. These qualities are interdependent. Each influences the other, and working on one enhances them all. The first foundation deals with non judgment. And even though we've already discussed this to some extent, I think it'll be helpful for us to do a deeper dive on the topic. This particular foundation deals with our tendency to judge all aspects of our experience. And it helps us see how detrimental it can be to us when we get caught up in our ideas, and opinions, our likes, and our dislikes. Suspending judgment allows us to assume the stance of an impartial witness to any experience. And it helps us stay curious about what's happening rather than closed off. It's important to begin to recognize the judging mind when we practice mindfulness. So if in your meditation you find yourself thinking this is boring, or I can't do this, realize this is your mind judging the experience. You don't have to stop the judging, just recognize that it's occurring. And then try to notice the feeling that the judging mechanism evoked in you. When we can just observe our experience without wanting it to be different than it is, we take a tremendous first step in alleviating the hardship of life. Another foundation deals with our ability to bring patience to experience. In today's world, most of us are used to moving quickly and efficiently. We're doers, and problem solvers. And when things in our lives go wrong, we've come to expect magic pills, and immediate solutions so that we don't have to sit in our suffering for long. But not everything can be rushed, and in growing the skill of patience, we can better understand and accept that some things just have to unfold in their own time. It's likely that some of you will become impatient with the active meditating. Or you'll expect yourself to be better at it than you perceive yourself to be, and you might be frustrated with your progress. But if we can invite patience into our practice, we can bring a kind of self-compassion to our awareness, helping us acknowledge and accept our own developmental process, trusting that our evolution is unfolding exactly as it should. Another concept deals with something called The Beginner's Mind. Sometimes in life our beliefs and assumptions prevent us from experiencing the richness of the present moment. As we move into adulthood, the frequency with which we view things as beautiful, awe-inspiring, or full of wonder is diminished. We fall into conventional and mechanized ways of being, and we often miss out on some of the loveliest little pleasures that life has to offer. But with regular practice we can rediscover the delight that each moment is a fresh one. Developing a beginner's mind set helps us drop our preconceived ideas, and meet each moment with clear eyes, openness, and curiosity. And this allows for possibility, and prevents us from getting stuck in the rut of our own expertise, which often thinks it knows more than it does. The last attitudinal foundation of mindfulness that I want to mention in this segment deals with trust. In my mind one of the most interesting things about this practice is its usefulness in helping us peel back the layers of armor that protect us. Both from the outside world and from really seeing our true selves. It allows us to know our own hearts and minds more deeply, and it gives us permission to validate our own experience. So by sitting in reflective stillness, we can learn to trust our own intelligence. And the feedback that's coming from our heart, and our true intentions. The more this trust is cultivated, the greater the access to our own resilience and strength. Believing in our own intuition and authority, and the goodness inside us, helps us to live with more authenticity. Subsequently, the frequency with which we look outside ourselves for guidance diminishes. As best as you're able, pay attention to self-doubting thoughts when they arise, and look more deeply into where they really come from. Instead of just believing them, interrogate their validity and helpfulness. You might just find that everything you need to handle the challenges in your life is already inside you. So these are four qualities of mindfulness. And in the next segment we'll look into three more
