Trigger Tamer Toolkit - Mindfulness 05 - Awareness without fixing Artwork

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Trigger Tamer Toolkit - Mindfulness 05 - Awareness without fixing

May 14, 2024 • Andy Fermo • Season 5

Trigger Tamer Toolkit - Mindfulness 05
Presence, Acceptance & Joy - Awareness without fixing

"Awareness without fixing" is a mindfulness practice focused on letting go of the natural habit of fixing problems.

It guides the listener to be aware of their discomfort, refrain from immediate problem-solving, and offer mindful care to themselves before calmly seeking simple solutions.

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Awareness of your problem without fixing it. Letting go of fixing. When there's discontentment, the natural habit is to correct it. The mind goes into fix it mode. This often results in circular thinking. Trying in vain to solve a problem. Although reflection and goal setting are useful, the obsession you experience is often not. This exercise offers a technique to work with this fix it thinking. You can use it in a formal meditation practice and to return to it at any point during your day when you notice the mind stuck on a loop of problem solving. Sit up as straight as possible and hold. Inviting alertness into the mind and the body. Take a few deep breaths energising the body. Begin to tune into your thoughts. What problem are you working to solve? Is there something specific you want to figure out or fix? Notice the issue itself, not your thoughts about it. Try to clearly see what the problem is, rather than focusing on the solution. With the problem in your mind, notice any discomfort you might feel around it. There may be some fear of the unknown, insecurity, or a desire to plan something. Whatever your experience is, look at the issue with tender awareness. There's no need to judge yourself, beat yourself up, or jump right into fixing. Just be with the discomfort. As you rest in the awareness of the problem to be solved, begin tuning in to the mind and the body. Is there tension in the body? Notice where it is. Recognise when the mind jumps into the desire to fix the discomfort by saying to yourself, fixing. With the intention of meeting your experience with patients, offer yourself a few phrases of mindful care. I see this discomfort. The mind wants to fix it. May I be with this problem? To close this meditation, take a minute to ask yourself what can be done. Letting go of fixing. You don't need to come up with a clear step by step plan. Just offer the simplest solution possible. For example, if you're worried about bills, Recognize that you might need to save some money. Allow a basic solution to arise and don't dive more deeply into the story. I am breathing in. I am breathing out. That completes the session.