What is Non-Striving | Jim Squire Psychotherapy

What is Non-Striving? 

By Jim Squire And Associates Psychotherapy |

Best Psychotherapist Toronto

Non-striving is a key concept of mindfulness, but it can be difficult to understand. In a world where we are encouraged to strive for excellence in every area of life, it can be hard to accept the concept of non-striving. So what does non-striving mean and how can it help us? This blog post will break down the concept of non-striving and discuss why it's an important part of mindfulness practice. 

Non-striving is a way of approaching life that involves letting go of our need to control outcomes and instead focusing more on the present moment. It acknowledges that striving too hard for perfection or success can lead us to become overly focused on the future, disconnected from our internal wisdom, and paralyzed by fear of failure. The goal of non-striving is not to avoid achievement, but to view our successes and failures with curiosity and acceptance rather than judgment or criticism. 

In mindfulness practice, non-striving takes center stage as one of the core tenets. Mindfulness encourages practitioners to observe their experience without judgment or attachment; in other words, without striving for something else (or away from something). The idea behind this is that when we free ourselves from expectations or attachments, we become more aware and connected with our environment. This allows us to respond more skillfully to challenges, rather than react out of fear or frustration. In addition to improving our relationship with ourselves, this kind of awareness also helps us build better relationships with others. 

The benefits of non-striving extend beyond just improved mental health - research has found that incorporating elements like non-judgmental awareness into therapeutic practices can also reduce stress levels and improve overall physical health. Additionally, when we let go of striving and instead focus on simply being present in the moment, we find ourselves more capable of enjoying life’s small pleasures instead of constantly looking ahead at what might be next. 

Non-striving is an integral part of mindfulness practice because it encourages us to be present in the moment without judgment or attachment - allowing us to better understand our experience and respond skillfully to challenges as they arise. With regular practice, we can start seeing significant improvements in both our mental health and overall well being as a result! Whether you’re just getting started with mindfulness or have been practicing for years, learning how to embrace non-striving can make all the difference when it comes to achieving peace within yourself.

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