Just wanted to start a thread about focus and how it can help. I don't know if this has anything to do with mindfulness but maybe somehow it can help us to get our sights on things that will make it easier to control our emotions, stress levels and avert a crisis or two.

So here's what I want to do:

Wherever you are, obviously you're in front of your computer, phone or electronic device but wherever you're doing that, look around you and as quickly as you can do this:

Post what is going on around you, or things that you see or hear. Take a moment to think about it. Try to find something unusual or different than you normally notice around you. Post how you think it affects you and whether it's a good effect or a bad one. If it's a bad one, think about how you can find something else you can focus on and do that. Post that too if you want.

I don't know maybe this will be kind of fun. Maybe I'm blowing hot air and this is a ludicrous exercise but hey, can't hurt to try!

~S4

You've basically nailed a large part of mindfulness on the head. Stop focusing on your thoughts and look around, distract, notice other things, focus outward. I'll attempt it in a sec. Head is in the clouds at the moment...might be getting sick. Definitely not having a whole lot of pervading, negative, intrusive thoughts at the moment, which is unusual.

Oh really? I dunno. I never read much more than a paragraph about mindfulness but kind of figured this is a good way to get your mind focused off of worries and stress and just idk, "center" yourself (for lack of a better explanation)

One perfectly square stone on fireplace surrounded by imperfect stones. The perfectly square one reminds me how I wish life was. The imperfect stones represent the reality of life, nothing or no one is perfect but all these these imperfect stones create a beautiful fireplace.

[beautifulfreak]

Yes, this is mindfulness…and it is important that we remember to be non-judgemental. For example, not to label a sound as good or bad but just to notice…
Ok, here I go

[beautifulfreak]

I'm going to focus on sound…the nearest sound is the purring of the cat, further away I can hear the oil tank outside, further still I can hear the birds singing. Now the nearest sound is the lambs outside!

[beautifulfreak]

Remember guys not to put a label on the sight or the sound or whatever!

Just trying to help, because I did the DBT programme and mindfulness is a core part of DBT!

[Ultra Darkness]

The highway is quiet but for an occasional car or truck. The hum of a refrigerator is the backdrop for the radio. The candy smell of mint in the still air. My 3DS is covered with fur.

That's what you get when I don't stop to think!

[beautifulfreak]

Can I share an example from what we did one day in DBT?
Just notice, observe, describe…be non-judgemental, if you get distracted just come back to the task in hand.
Ok, example-hold a remote control in your hand, notice the weight, is it smooth or rough? Observe the buttons, the colours…describe it…

[beautifulfreak]

The remote control was too much for me…sorry! But it is a very good one if you can stick with it!

I see beautifulfreak has said this is mindfulness but at the point I typed this out I wasn't intending on it being that, i just meant something to do that could help.

One reason I pointed out to note whether it had a bad or good effect on you is because in order to control your thoughts and focus and understand if something is affecting you in a negative way, you have to be able to recognize when something specific is negative or positive. Just my way of thinking. Hard to turn off judgment of things without first noticing when you do.

[beautifulfreak]

I wasn't the first person to point out the 'mindfulness' aspect!

I apologise for misinterpreting your post s4nd

[beautifulfreak]

Just wondering why you singled me out when I wasn't the first person to see the 'mindfulness' aspect of your post s4nd?

[beautifulfreak]

Plus, I'm my defence, I was only trying to help…

[beautifulfreak]

Excuse the typo…I meant 'in'

@beautifulfreak, I never meant to imply that you were doing anything but trying to help I only mentioned what I did to clarify that I wasn't necessarily overtly promoting mindfulness and all that, because frankly I don't know enough about it. I only mentioned that so that the whole thread wasn't interpreted as ment to be something about DBT. I only used your post because you were the latest person to bring it up again. Please don't take it the wrong way, nothing personal against you or your ideas.

To put it more specifically if you saw my other post I had mentioned the fact that a lot of people (including me) with disorders can sometimes get overly focused on their traits, their behaviors and everything may get skewed sometimes. I posted this thread as a way to get people willing, to focus elsewhere is all. If it's similar to mindfulness so be it, but I am far from an expert on the subject and probably know less than most about it on here so I just shy away from specifics on it.

I hope that makes sense *hugs*
~S4

[beautifulfreak]

Yes, s4nd I understand. I just felt a little bit annoyed for being singled out.

To be honest, DBT wasn't even a success for me, so I really didn't even mean to bring the whole DBT thing into it. I'm not a promoter of DBT at all myself but some of the stuff I had learned came back into mind and I kinda misinterpreted the post as a mindfulness exercise!! I guess DBT came back to haunt me seeing as I have said how this therapy didn't work for me.

Yes, I did read your other thread yesterday and I added a post to that too yesterday!

The only part I took personally earlier was that I was singled out…but you have explained your reasons for that.

Hugs right back at ya…

There's literally nothing going on around me... :|

Originally Posted by nevergoodenough

There's literally nothing going on around me... :|

That is an impossibility, you do realize right? That's the whole point. you have to look for it. I mean everyone is asleep now in my room. but even so there is activity there is sound - and I'm almost deaf and I can hear things here and there that I can focus on. You gotta look for it. The world is not dead around you...

Originally Posted by s4ndm4n2006

That is an impossibility, you do realize right? That's the whole point. you have to look for it. I mean everyone is asleep now in my room. but even so there is activity there is sound - and I'm almost deaf and I can hear things here and there that I can focus on. You gotta look for it. The world is not dead around you...

You're right. I guess I'm dead, though, instead. Because I'm not able to put it into words the way everyone else is.

Nevergoodenough. Close your eyses and listen to your breathing. I bet it sounds soft and soothing if you let it. I do this when I feel numb , reminds me I'm still here.

[TheRealFDeal]

The TV is on. And although I can't pay attention to both my computer and the tv at the same time, I need the noise in the background to help keep me distracted from my thoughts.

[poptart316]

I hear the hum of the heating vent.. and there's a blinking light on my iphone speaker thing.. I didn't turn it off.