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I use the practice of being mindful, or being present, very often now. At first, it was a really helpful tool for me to quiet ruminations, quiet my mind and identify my true emotions. It's also been a wonderful tool to enjoy the little things that I, we, take for granted everyday.

Today, it went something like this... .   I had to travel for work today about an hour and a half away into the countryside of where I live, a part of the historic Flint Hills. Perfect time for practicing being all present. My destination was a very small town I had never been before, that's always exciting for me. As I drove I tried to notice and take in everything I was seeing. I looked for the little details in things like the bare trees and the different colors of the bark, or lack of, which made some of them stand out stark white against yellow fields dormant for the winter. The road, after we turned off the highway, turned into what looked something like a quilt because it had been patched many times here and there. And it kind of sparkled. The road was lined by barbed wire fences, some told their age by the fact that the posts were old tree limbs, crooked but evenly placed. There were farm animals here and there next to old farm houses, some not so old. As I drove I felt the heat from the truck heater blow over my hands and the feel of the steering wheel. I purposely noticed my breathing and how I was feeling. Content, calm, happy to be experiencing a part of this big world that's in my backyard so to speak. All the while, I'm at work, on my way to our job for the day... .   

There have been many times over the past two years in particular where I have reminded myself to stop what I was doing, or thinking, to become present and be in the moment. Times where I was upset or sad, I would practice this technique to center myself. It's impossible to hold two thoughts at the very same moment so this helped me redirect exhausting ruminations, my mind needed a break from those. Stopping and making myself look around, literally, notice details of my surroundings and notice my physical reactions to my emotions helped me redirect my thoughts. Which of course, brought my focus back to myself and how I could change old, unhealthy reactions.

Here you will find more in detail how helpful this tool can be: TOOLS: DBT for Non Borderlines- Mindfulness  (https://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=64749.0)

Anyone else using this practice as a part of their recovery?  

Hi Suzn!

What a great reminder of the techniques we can all adopt to help us from going, in our minds, where we don't want to go.

Yes, I am doing it, on a smaller level, and very frequently, almost once an hour. I do 25 jumping jacks to get the blood going, stop and do some deep breathing, and envision myself floating in a small boat on a calm lake. All the while, thinking about what I have today, not yesterday, not tomorrow, this present moment. It is very peaceful, and I have found that it helps with the ruminations, and allows me to focus my attention on myself.

Best Wishes,

Val78

suzn and Val78 - yes I've been doing it too.  Small doses for me as such early days, but I try to switch off from my mind being on overdrive about my exbfBPD.  I find that by doing this I'm sleeping better, which is a real plus, as I love my sleep and was having a real problem with the not sleeping.  It seems to calm the anxiety.  Yes, concentrating on today and not yesterdays or tomorrows.  Peace - I think we all need and deserve that.  These relationships really take their toll, sometimes more than we realise.  Since you pointed this out suzn, I'm going to start concentrating on it more and more.  It can be our ME time  :)

Nice post suzn  |iiii ... .  yep I employ mindfulness every day... .  at the moment it tends to be more reactive... .  ie/ I use it as a response to noticing I am going to a bad place in my head... .  

I hope it can become more intuitive... .  more "part of me" than a tool if that makes sense!

I've heard so much about mindfulness and living in the moment... .  I obviously need to give it more credence.  I'd try anything at this point to keep my wheels from spinning constantly.

Suzn... .  I used to live in Wellington, KS... .  I live in Kansas City now, but I'd often make that drive along I-35... .  I used to think the Flint Hills were really boring.  In fact, I drove really fast through there (I called it the Audobon of Kansas).  But I can see with the proper perspective it would be a peaceful drive.

F1