Ready, Set, Go!
Last month, we learned about the importance of connection to the present moment. It is one of the six core principles of ACT because when we are mindful, we connect with the world directly, rather than being caught up in our thoughts and feelings. In the book the Happiness Trap, Harris says that “when we are mindful of our own thoughts, we can see them for what they are and let them go. When we are mindful of our feelings, we can make room for them and let them be. And when we are mindful of our here-and-now experience, we are deeply connected with it.” Thus, the ACT skills we’ve learned about so far (defusion, expansion, and connection) are all mindfulness skills.
One of the six core principles of ACT is mindfulness
“When we are mindful of our own thoughts, we can see them for what they are and let them go. When we are mindful of our feelings, we can make room for them and let them be. And when we are mindful of our here-and-now experience, we are deeply connected with it.”
So, ACT is a mindfulness-based theory, but there are significant differences between ACT and other mindfulness-based programs. ACT is about taking action. Harris describes the concept of “workability” as “any behavior and how well it works in the long run toward creating a rich and meaningful life.” In ACT, we learn mindfulness skills to help us take action to improve our lives. (Harris, p. 136). On the flip side, here is what ACT isn’t:
ACT is not a religion or spiritual belief system
ACT is not meditation
ACT is not a pathway to enlightenment
So, if ACT isn’t the three things listed above, what exactly is it? It’s an evidenced based practice for creating a life of meaning by accepting our INTERNAL EXPERIENCE, STAYING PRESENT, and ACTING ON OUR VALUES. So, workability becomes a key concept because if you do things, behave in certain ways or take actions that move you toward creating the life you want, then you will have a rich and meaningful life!
Reflection: What ACT mindfulness based skill is most appealing to you so far that will help you take your life in a value based direction? (Click on the list below for some of the ACT mindfulness skills we’ve covered so far)
Action: Commit to creating a routine over the next 30 days where you take 5 minutes each day to connect to the present moment. Use one of the mindfulness based skills to help you “ride the waves” of thoughts and feelings that will continually show up. In ACT, we learn mindfulness skills to help us take action to improve our lives.