Interpersonal Communication- A Mindful Approach to Relationships, 2020a

Describing
Acting with
Awareness
Nonjudging
of Inner
Experience
Observing
Nonreactivity
to Inner
Experience
Figure 1.8 Five Facets of Mindfulness
The third facet of mindfulness is , or “engaging fully in one’s present activity
rather than functioning on automatic pilot.” 43 When it comes to acting with awareness, it’s important to
focus one’s attention purposefully. In our day-to-day lives, we often engage in behaviors without being
consciously aware of what we are doing. For example, have you ever thought about your routine for
showering? Most of us have a pretty specific ritual we use in the shower (the steps we engage in as we
shower). Still, most of us do this on autopilot without really taking the time to realize how ritualized this
behavior is.
The fourth facet of mindfulness is the , which involves being
consciously aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and attitudes without judging them. One of the hardest
things for people when it comes to mindfulness is not judging themselves or their inner experiences. As
humans, we are pretty judgmental and like to evaluate most things as positive or negative, good or bad,
etc.… However, one of the goals of mindfulness is to be present and aware. As soon as you start judging
your thoughts, feelings, and attitudes, you stop being present and become focused on your evaluations
and not your experiences.
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