Mindful Rewrites - Mind Trap

In her inspiring book about abolitionists from Charleston in the 1800s, The Invention of Wings, author Sue Monk Kidd contrasts the lives of abolitionist Sarah Grimke, daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, with that of the owner's personal slave, Handful. Handful makes an incisive observation about the two of them. She notes that while as a slave she is physically trapped on the plantation, Sarah is similarly trapped in her own mind. As the story unfolds, Sarah finds her own voice and is finally able to express herself and her own feelings about slavery.

Mindful Rewrite

In the novel, Sarah uses deep contemplation and self-reflection to break out of the prison of her ideas. What Sarah learned over time was that she had been programmed by her culture to accept slavery, even though that was not who she was or what she believed in.

Mindfulness is a tool that can be used in our modern world to observe our ideas without judgment and to learn to choose thoughts that express our deepest values of compassion for our self and others. Hate consumes while love expands our mind.

Practice 

Practice relating to your thoughts and emotions--not simply from them. Develop a practice of labeling your emotions as they arise. For example, when you are speaking with a person, you might notice you are judging and labeling your thoughts as judgment, judgment, judgment. You may meet someone who intimidates you and notice that what you are feeling is fear, fear, fear. Being conscious in this way allows you to notice the thoughts that diminish you or others. Monitor what you believe and experience and look for opportunities to see yourself and others with greater clarity and compassion.