When harmful or unhealthy habits form, they can cause us much suffering and they can be hard to change because they are carried out automatically and without conscious awareness. Mindfulness is a key to changing harmful or unwanted habits as it provides skillful methods and practices to bring them into the light of awareness. Three elements of mindfulness are particularly important in changing unhealthy or unwanted habits - Intention, Attention, and Attitude. The talk explores these three elements with a focus on Intention.
When we experience hostility and ill will, rather than simply acknowledging it, we stick it into ourselves, and begin to assume we’re unwelcome or unworthy. We can use meditation to change the flavor of the heart, steeping it in the qualities of the brahmavihara (goodwill, compassion, gladness, equanimity).
We learn from everyone who comes into our life--those that inspire and those who are challenging. If our intention is to wake up, then everyone can be seen as part of our process. This profoundly changes our relationship to all. Even the difficult ones are no longer the enemy.
