The beginnings

I'm starting here - with whatever the condition of my mind, body and spirit.

This is an online diary of my journey toward mindfulness and cultivation of positive life-qualities.

My goals are to cultivate helpful qualities of mind and habit, such as mindfulness, focus, discipline, and practice, and to cultivate helpful qualities of living such as generosity, compassion, loving kindness, etc.

My influences are varied. I was brought up a practicing Christian, and have a basic comfort level with mindfulness meditation and an openness to Buddhist teachings and practices, although I have not studied any in detail.

Initially I'll be following the guided meditations found at http://bit.ly.rodalemindfulness which are linked to Mark Williams and Danny Penman's book "Mindfulness: An Eight-week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World". I'll aim to cultivate one set of mental disciplines and/or qualities every week and report back here on my progress. I will take some liberties with this programme, however, in order to include a practice of cultivating the spiritual values such as compassion, etc., as the desire to grow these qualities in myself is actually the catalyst for my project.....I am merely using the structure of Williams/Penman's book to get me started.

The greater purpose here is to improve my relationships in all respects: first with my husband, which is sadly and permanently on rather bumpy ground; second with my children, for whom I long to be a good role model and feel sorely lacking in this capacity, so wish to first cultivate in myself that which I hope they will spiritually inherit from me; third with my friends, acquaintances, and business colleagues; and fourth with my fellow man/woman - the stranger in my sphere of influence. I am keenly aware recently of how much power I have to affect another human being for ill or good, and need more tools and inner wisdom to determine/notice and choose the good I can give to others.

Here is the list of Williams/Penman's eight practices which are the start of the recommended mindfulness practice:

1. Mindfulness of Body and Breath
2. The Body Scan
3. Mindful Movement
4. Breath and Body
5. Sounds and Thoughts
6. Exploring Difficulty
7. Befriending
8. The Three Minute Breathing Space

Here are the qualities I might choose to cultivate:
1. Breath/awareness
2. Gentleness
3. Acceptance
4. Compassion
5. Gratitude
6. Generosity
7. Patience
8. Loving kindness
9. Perseverance
10. Curiosity
11. Joy
12. Peace
13. Faithfulness
14. Self-control

In all this I want to become a better human being.

Follow, read, join in as you will.