yah.its.caraJan 10, 2025
mindfulness for people who don’t care about mindfulness [🧵]
Show threadyah.its.caraJan 10, 2025
[01] You’ve seen it everywhere:
◇ How to overcome anxiety.
◇ How to make decisions easier.
◇ How to have a better golf swing.
Mindfulness is pitched as the secret to emotional intelligence, making $10 million a month, and living the good life.
“Be mindful. Practice mindfulness. Sit down and chant.”
It’s low-hanging fruit for sounding smart about the mind, but it helps no one who’s never tried it before. How do you actually be mindful?
Does it require a lotus pose? A quiet room? Closed eyes?
Show threadyah.its.cara
[02] I’m not asking you to be thoughtful—these are barriers to entry.
Level 1️⃣: Notice the Thought
The fastest way to be mindful. It takes less time than it took to read this far:
◇ Set your phone down in front of you. Look somewhere else.
◇ When you think about reaching for your phone, notice that thought.
◇ Go back to not touching it.
That’s it. Look into the middle distance. Pretend you’re unraveling the secrets of the universe—or perfecting your smolder. If the thought comes back..
Jan 10, 2025 at 5:46amBuffer
Show threadyah.its.caraJan 10, 2025
[03] You might even reach for your phone.
Don’t. Then notice that thought.
Bonus: Level 2️⃣—Feel the Urge
◇ Notice the thought of grabbing your phone, but don’t act on it.
◇ Pay attention to what happens in your body when you don’t grab it.
◇ See what happens when a notification pops up—and you ignore it.
Your body’s reactions shows how thoughts translate into physical urges.
(If you’re immune to shiny objects, substitute the phone with snacks, binge-watching, or starting new side projects)
Show threadyah.its.caraJan 10, 2025
[04] Why This Works
Meditating, at its core, is awareness practice. Grabbing your phone is chasing a thought. Mindfulness is noticing the thought—and letting it go.
You already have mindful moments in your life: walking, cooking, zoning out mid-meeting. Just notice your thoughts. Don’t grab them.
That’s it.
Oh, and low-hanging fruit? It's the heaviest.