Develop some more attitude!
Jon Kabat-Zinn calls the 9 attitudes “the major pillars of mindfulness” and advises that they should be “cultivated consciously” when practising. With further study, it quickly becomes clear that they are all interdependent, one leading almost seamlessly to the next.
Last time we looked at Non-Judging, Beginner’s Mind, Patience and Acceptance. That leaves us with Non-Striving, Trust, Letting Go, Gratitude and Generosity.
Non-Striving
As mindfulness meditation is about being rather than doing, it should come as no surprise that we let go of goals, of striving to achieve something through our practice. This can sound paradoxical. You might think, well I’m meditating because I want the benefits associated with regular practice such as more peace of mind etc. But, the thing is, we’re simply paying attention to what’s already here, what’s already happening, so we don’t actually have to do anything or strive for a particular state of mind. Try stepping right back from having goals and see what happens.
Trust
That leads nicely into trust. The trust we’re developing is in ourselves to begin with and our own wisdom. We are learning to be more trusting in our own ability to observe and be open to our experience. Jon Kabat-Zinn says that through mindfulness we are cultivating a trusting heart. It seems to me that this is the source of more resilience and, ultimately, greater peace of mind. 
Letting Go
We’ve already discussed how our minds are constantly judging: ourselves, other people and situations. So, when we find something pleasant we tend to want to hold on to it and prolong the associated thoughts and feelings. Conversely, when we find ourselves experiencing unpleasant, perhaps painful or frightening thoughts, we want to get rid of them. We might try to suppress them or distract ourselves. Meditation allows us to observe this clinging and aversion as it happens. Instead of getting caught up with these thoughts, we sit back and allow them to arise and then move on. By letting go we are allowing our experience to be exactly what it is. And sometimes we might have to let go of trying to let go! No one said it was easy but we will start to notice our habits of mind and that’s the first step.
Gratitude
We might begin by recognising and appreciating all that we have in this moment right now without needing anything more. Jon Kabat-Zinn is fond of pointing out that if you’re breathing there’s more right with you than wrong with you! Focusing on the small details of our lives can help, too: that first cup of tea or coffee in the morning, a smile, a snatch of birdsong, hot water in the shower, the sound of rain. If you stop and think - there is so much to feel grateful for, even when we’re caught up in difficulty in our lives. You might like to read more about the power of gratitude here: How Gratitude Changes you and your Brain
Generosity
If we practise gratitude, it’s probably easier to be generous. Generosity entails giving of ourselves – our time and attention as well as material things or money. The impact of generosity on others is very quickly appreciated by remembering a time when someone showed us generosity. Generosity can be an antidote to all that seems negative in this world.
All of these attitudes allow us to be open to our experience just as it is and work with the raw material of our existence... perhaps in a completely new way.
