multi-tasking and mindfulness

The start / finish line

An adventure race may seem on odd place to bring to mind when discussing mindfulness but it provides a great venue to watch the practice of mindfulness in all its aspects. On Sunday we were fortunate to have great weather, dry and sunny with a cooling breeze, beautiful blue skies and  countryside full of vivid greens, bright yellows, and all shared with good companions. 

It was possible to see  how some people approached the day with a 'task' focus - this must be done, then that, then the next thing. For others it was a question of looking around and seeing what could be done. For racers some seemed to be oblivious to everything except the map, the route and the time, while others did have awareness of these core elements (after all it is a race) but at the same time noticed the scenery, the level of water in the streams, the wildlife.

While some say mindfulness means present moment, non judgemental awareness, personally this isn't deep enough - aware of what? One thing (the task focus) or everything? Can we be aware in the moment if we are thinking of the time, of what comes next? And how can we be non-judgemental when every thought can be governed by our experience to date and expectations of what comes next? Just watching the racers brings this out, how one person reacts to something untoward whether injury or mistake and immediately judges the future (that great word 'catastrophising') - that's it, might as well give up and go home. While another's injury is accepted as a prompt to at least enjoy the day even if racing stops. But even these statements involve judgement. How can one person know if another is being overly dramatic or whether in their minds the situation is dire, they won't be able to do that important work tomorrow, they have travelled a long way and given up a lot to be here today.

This translates to our daily lives, how much of our travel is a means to an end - I need to be at work for 8.00am whether the sun is shiny or not is irrelevant, I'm not looking out of the train window anyway. How often do we respond to those we work with without consideration for their view, their ability to cope right now. It's great to see racers setting off prepared to help each other, to work as a team, their bikes already kitted to tow their team mate, an appreciation of common goals but different different abilities in the moment. How often do we think of the same things in the workplace, in the family? At least with mindfulness we 'buy' ourselves time to respond to what arises rather than just react habitually.

So practice, be aware of what we see and feel and how we judge ourselves, our thoughts and others.