Values Quotes – Michelle Burford on Mindfulness

Welcome to Values Quotes. I’m Robert Ferguson.

Todays quote is from Michelle Burford, a multimedia journalist and the founding senior editor of O, The Oprah Magazine.

A perceptive quote from Burford is:
“Mindfulness can be summed up in two words: pay attention. Once you notice what you are doing, you have the power to change it.”

Great advice!

As a differentiating value, Mindfulness means paying close attention to responsibilities; to be observant; or attentive. But I think Burford’s 2 words are much more succinct: pay attention.

Isn’t it odd how quick we notice when others aren’t paying attention? For instance, at a playground, you can tell when a parent is not watching their child who is about to get hurt. And you can sure tell when someone is texting while driving. Maybe you even yell out loud in your car “pay attention!”

So, why do we sometimes catch ourselves not paying attention? The secret is actually in the value of mindfulness. It’s about paying close attention to our “responsibilities”.  To be mindful, means to know and pay close attention to our responsibilities at all times.

So be mindful when watching over your child at the local park. And change your habits when driving a vehicle: don’t text and drive. Pay attention!

 

Today’s value was selected from the “Determination-Focus” category, based on the e-book Developing Your Differentiating Values.