Chapter 2
Enjoying the Benefits of Mindfulness
In This Chapter
Understanding what mindfulness is for
Discovering the effects of mindfulness on your thoughts and emotions
Exploring the heart of mindfulness
The enjoyment that comes from mindfulness is a bit like the enjoyment that comes from dancing. Do you dance because of the cardiovascular benefits or for boosting your brain by following a tricky dance routine? When you dance with a goal or motive in mind, it kind of spoils it a bit, doesn’t it? Dancing for the sake of dancing is far more fun. But of course, dancing for the sheer pleasure of it doesn’t reduce the benefits on your mind and body of dancing – they’re just the icing on the cake.
In the same way, be mindful for the sake of being mindful. Mindfulness is about connecting with your senses, being curious, exploring the inner workings of the human mind. If you’re too concerned about reaping the benefits of mindfulness, you spoil the fun of it. The journey of mindfulness isn’t to reach a certain destination: the journey is the destination. Keep this in mind as you read about the various benefits of mindfulness described in this chapter, and let the dance of mindfulness unfold ...
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