Online MBCT/MBSR Lesson 1

Mindful Eating Discussion

Take a few moments to think about what was it like eating mindfully and paying attention to every aspect of the act of eating.

• What sorts of things did you notice about your experience eating in this way that were different from how you usually experience eating?
 
• One of the reasons we start with this exercise is that it highlights the differences between how we usually do routine activities—relatively absentmindedly and out of habit—and how we do them when we’re being mindful and deliberately pay attention to our experience in the present.
 
• It also illustrates how mindfulness isn't something you can only do while meditating. There is nothing special about being mindful. Anything you do, you can do mindfully.

How well were you able to stay focused on your experience? Did your mind wander frequently?

When first learning to practice mindfulness, the biggest challenge is trying to stay focused on your experience in the present moment as it's happening. So if you found it difficult to keep your attention on the raisin and the act of eating, that's perfectly normal and nothing to be concerned about:

• Our minds are easily distracted
  
• Mind wandering is normal and natural
  
• Mindfulness is not about preventing your mind from wandering
• It's about paying attention to where your mind is from moment-to-moment
  
• If you notice your mind isn’t where you want it to be, gently ushering it back

So if you find it hard to stay focused throughout this, or any of the mindfulness practices we'll do, please don't be discouraged. It takes time to develop the ability to maintain your attention in the present moment, and even after years of practice, there will always be times when you get distracted while trying to be mindful and your mind wanders, and your attention isn't as focused as you'd like.

Just be aware, as best you can, where your mind is from moment-to-moment, and whenever you notice you're not paying attention to what you want to be paying attention to, gently usher your attention back to where you want it. And don't be surprised, and try not to get discouraged, if your attention wanders away again before you know it, as that's the most common experience you'll have when you first start practicing being mindful.