Cultivating the Beginner’s Mind is about seeing the world through child-like eyes, free from expectation, judgement and attachment. The Beginner’s Mind is an aspect of mindfulness that helps to develop a sense of freshness and curiosity about the world around you as well as towards the thoughts and beliefs within you. It can be seen as ‘radical openness’ and with it can come much joy. "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." - Shunryu Suzuki
With a Beginner’s Mind we try to greet each day as a totally new experience, leaving behind the baggage of the day before where this baggage is not helpful and no longer serves us. By becoming more curious and playful with our view of the world, of others and of our own thinking, we are more likely to try new things, be more creative; and be less perturbed by challenges and more forgiving of both ourselves and others.
You could try contemplating a Beginner’s Mind in different aspects of your day to develop your mindfulness. For example, when you wake up, go straight to your journal (or piece of paper) and ‘free write’ for 3 minutes about anything that comes into your head. Do this without judgement or expectation. When you make breakfast, get dressed, prepare for the day ahead, do so as if you were watching yourself from a distance, as if this was the first time you have gone through this routine. When you are outside, look closely, listen carefully. Imagine this is the first time you have seen or heard these things. How does this make you feel? How would you explain these things to someone else who had never seen or heard them?
Approach your thinking and even your beliefs this week with a Beginner’s Mind. Wonder at a thought that comes into your head and ask why you thought it. What has led you to think this? Is it a repeated pattern? Is it borne out of preconceived ideas or is it a totally unique thought?
Have fun seeing the world with deep curiosity this week. Take the Beginner’s Mind into your work space, home or onto your yoga mat and notice how your thoughts differ and your body moves. Allow a sense of playfulness to your thinking and movement.
Connect to the Beginner’s Mind in our specifically themed yoga videos on our YouTube channel. Approach them with a child-like sense of fun - with no judgement and no expectations.
Using the Beginner’s Mind in your life can help to relieve anxiety, depression and feelings of being ‘stuck’; it can help develop a sense of curiosity, creativity and calm.
Enjoy,
From our hearts to yours,
Alis and Daniella
xx
Spending time in nature with a Beginner’s Mind brings a smile to our faces and spring in our step!