Thread: Can we use the breath as an anchor during the day?

I think any time you can find the breath during the day is good for mindfulness. The breath has a calming quality about it as well that makes it as bit different from other anchors one might want to use. That's why it is recommended to take a few breaths during so argument, or whenever you feel your emotions rising

EDIT: It is not a sin to switch to autopilot. It's going to happen anyway, whether you have an anchor or not. It's just important to bring your mind back when you notice this, and maintain an overall level of daily awareness. For lucid dreaming, anyway.

I know that Thich Nhat Hanh recommends the breath as a good entry point for mindfulness. It's very simple. Sometimes it occurs to me during times of stress when I switch to the awareness of breath that I'd actually forgotten to breathe!

I think the best thing is to learn be aware of your attention. Even though you stay focused present moment it doesnt make you that aware. If you just pay attention to your atenttion you learn to be mindfull no matter what you are thinking looking or doing. Just be aware whereever your atention is going.
As for what you can use for anchor being present moment can be pretty much anything that is going on in present moment. It can be breath or any other thing. I used to just focus on my vision as a present anchor by not looking at objects but just being aware of what i was seeing as an image rather than focusing looking trough tunnel vision. Still following your attention conscioulsy is being mindfull.

Originally Posted by Seltiez

I think the best thing is to learn be aware of your attention. Even though you stay focused present moment it doesnt make you that aware. If you just pay attention to your atenttion you learn to be mindfull no matter what you are thinking looking or doing. Its boring just being aware only of breath. Just be aware whereever your atention is going.

If you are bored, you are probably not being mindful. You have to build an interest in the breath. It's a good place to start.

Originally Posted by Seltiez

I think the best thing is to learn be aware of your attention. Even though you stay focused present moment it doesnt make you that aware. If you just pay attention to your atenttion you learn to be mindfull no matter what you are thinking looking or doing. Its boring just being aware only of breath. Just be aware whereever your atention is going.

Aware of your attention? Sorry, not sure I get that. Could you give an example or phrase it differently? There are so many different types and levels of awareness and what not, I'm starting to lose track -_-

Originally Posted by mimihigurashi

Aware of your attention? Sorry, not sure I get that. Could you give an example or phrase it differently? There are so many different types and levels of awareness and what not, I'm starting to lose track -_-

Its like you are following where you focus is going. Like if you are watching a movie or something distracting but you arent consciously deciding to focus on that and you lose yourself completely to the experience. If this doesnt make any sense to you start by just start the thing about being aware of breath.

Originally Posted by ThreeCat

If you are bored, you are probably not being mindful. You have to build an interest in the breath. It's a good place to start.

What you said is true its goodway to start. I believe from my experience thats its best to start building awareness of what you are interested in so it wont feel like a chore.
I am being mindfull im sure of that i have confidence in my methods. Being mindfull isnt something you should force yourself to be its more like letting go of the idea you have to do anything for it. Just tried to help her let go of the idea that she have to focus on breath to stay present. Thats why i believe in order to be succesfull you need to learn to just follow where your focus is going and you will become more aware naturally. Its same thing for meditation by becoming aware of your thoughts and letting them go and if you feel something you become aware of it and let it go.

Originally Posted by Seltiez

Its like you are following where you focus is going. Like if you are watching a movie or something distracting but you arent consciously deciding to focus on that and you lose yourself completely to the experience. You can think, remember or act any way you like but you need to be mindfull about it and know consciously where your focus are going. If this doesnt make any sense start by just start the thing about being aware of breath.

Ok. To me that sounds a lot like being "tuned in", the opposite of auto-pilot. That's pretty much what I'm trying to do continuously, but it's easy to get distracted, that's why I was thinking of a practical anchor to keep me from zoning out.

Originally Posted by mimihigurashi

Ok. To me that sounds a lot like being "tuned in", the opposite of auto-pilot. That's pretty much what I'm trying to do continuously, but it's easy to get distracted, that's why I was thinking of a practical anchor to keep me from zoning out.

It doesnt matter if you get distracted time to time. Just by noticing that you arent mindfull and pulling yourself back to present is progress. Dont try so hard and it will become easier. Just do what you do because it already seems you know how to be mindfull. If you think that you have to always do something in order to be mindfull its wrong way. Its just when you arent doing anything mentally but observing you are being mindfull. Does this make any sense to you?

Originally Posted by Seltiez

It doesnt matter if you get distracted time to time. Just by noticing that you arent mindfull and pulling yourself back to present is progress. Dont try so hard and it will become easier. Just do what you do because it already seems you know how to be mindfull. If you think that you have to always do something in order to be mindfull its wrong way. Its just when you arent doing anything mentally but observing you are being mindfull. Does this make any sense to you?

Yeah, I get what you mean, but it's not easy for me to not try so hard. I'm just really frustrated for being awful at DILD despite doing dozens of RCs and trying to be at a high awareness throughout the day, but that's my problem. Anyway, thanks for the help.