Meditation is an umbrella time period for all kinds of practices. Beneath this umbrella, practices embrace (however are usually not restricted to) loving-kindness meditation, mindfulness meditation, mantra meditation, and affirmation meditation.
Some meditations contain a mix of practices, which may result in confusion about what’s what. Two forms of meditation which are usually mixed however which are distinct practices are affirmation meditation and mindfulness meditation. On this article, we discover the similarities and variations between these two practices.
Whether or not you’re a private meditation practitioner or meditation instructor, having the ability to differentiate between practices is useful. As a practitioner, it helps you be intentional about what you’re practising and why. As a instructor, it lets you achieve readability round what you provide to your college students. Let’s dive in to find how these practices differ and the way they overlap.
Affirmations vs. Mindfulness: Key Variations
Let’s begin by looking on the core rules of those two distinct practices.
First, we’ve got affirmation meditation. An affirmation (throughout the context of meditation) is a optimistic assertion that reinforces one thing we need to really feel, embody, or imagine. Examples embrace:
Affirmation meditation makes use of a number of optimistic statements as the main focus of our apply. Typically, the method is to repeat these statements internally and to really feel their power inside each thoughts and physique. The objective? To hardwire these optimistic beliefs into who we’re, cultivating a optimistic mindset.
Alternatively, mindfulness is about non-judgmental, moment-to-moment consciousness. It’s not about attempting to really feel a sure method. Reasonably, it’s about opening to what’s proper right here, proper now – with care and curiosity.
Mindfulness meditation is a proper apply of sitting with ‘what’s’. It’s about cultivating caring, curious consciousness of any side of our expertise – resembling respiratory, the bodily physique, our ideas, or our feelings. The objective? To strengthen our capability to reside within the current second.
Once we look at the core rules, apply, and objectives of every meditation outlined above, we will begin to perceive the distinction. Affirmation meditation is about cultivating or affirming a optimistic thought or expertise, whereas mindfulness is about cultivating consciousness of no matter our expertise is – proper now.
Although affirmation meditation can be utilized to reaffirm what’s already current, it’s most frequently future-oriented. It has us asking: The place do I need to go? Who do I need to be? What do I need to embody?
In mindfulness meditation, we might turn out to be conscious of future-oriented ideas, however we don’t take motion on them. We discover no matter is right here. We discover as issues come and as issues go, remaining anchored within the current second.
The Overlapping Floor: Similarities
Whereas these two practices are basically completely different of their goal and method, there are a number of similarities. Contemplate the next factors of overlap between mindfulness meditation and affirmation meditation:
Combining Affirmations and Mindfulness
Many individuals who meditate really feel drawn in direction of each affirmations and mindfulness – and that’s nice! These two methods could be interwoven superbly, serving to us to be each totally attuned to this second and work with our desires of the long run.
Listed below are 3 ways to mix affirmations and mindfulness:
1. Affirmations within the Physique
As you’re repeating an affirmation, get interested by the way it lands in your physique. What do you discover? Are there any physique elements that tug at your consideration? Are there elements of your physique the place the affirmation feels deeply true? Others the place there may be uncertainty? Maintain no matter you observe with care and curiosity.
2. Affirm the Current
Affirmations don’t need to be future-focused. They will remind us of what’s already current and true for us. For instance, you may work with a aware affirmation resembling:
3. Mindfulness of Room to Develop
A 3rd technique to incorporate mindfulness and affirmations is to begin with the previous earlier than shifting to the latter. In different phrases, use mindfulness meditation to convey caring curiosity to recurring thought patterns. Be aware the thought patterns that don’t serve your progress and wellbeing. For a short time in formal mindfulness meditation, don’t attempt to change them. Allow them to be. Then, select an affirmation that will allow you to to ‘attempt on’ a optimistic thought to counter the limiting one.
As an example, in the event you discover that you simply’re usually doubting your means to beat challenges, maintain this recognition in your consciousness with care and curiosity. Then, you may work with an affirmation resembling “I’m resilient and may overcome all obstacles.”
Widespread Misconceptions About Mindfulness and Affirmations
When practising both mindfulness or optimistic affirmations, it’s useful to concentrate on frequent misconceptions associated to each practices. These are three of them:
Summing Up
As you proceed down a meditative path (or as you look to start one), understanding the variations and similarities between mindfulness and affirmations can assist you be extra intentional about your apply. For those who educate meditation, this consciousness can assist you to guide others with better readability and precision.
Do not forget that there’s no proper or improper apply to decide to. What issues is that you’re practising methods that serve you and people round you. Your apply of choice might change time beyond regulation – or you’ll be able to weave your favourite practices collectively. Let your journey be as distinctive as you might be – and versatile to the unfolding highway forward.
