A Path to Mindfulness: A Lesson from the Ocean

Professional Experience Article

My recognition of the value of present moment awareness began in the Ocean. Surfing became my gateway experience to embracing mindfulness. The lessons I continue to learn from surfing and mindfulness help to orient me as a person and a counselor. I draw from my experience to inspire others to find their unique path to living a mindful life.

I learned to surf as a college student, during a period of personal struggle. At the time, I was using excessive exercise as a way to manage my feelings. My Dad gave me something positive to focus my time and energy on when he taught me how to surf. I soon learned that moment-to-moment awareness is essential to skillfully and safely navigate the waves. Being present in the Ocean helped me to fully inhabit my body in a nonjudgmental way. Gradually, my relationship with my body started to heal as I rediscovered the joy in movement. I came to appreciate my body as an instrument, not an ornament. Surfing helped me to taste the joy of fully dwelling in the present moment.

In graduate school, I learned that moment-to-moment awareness of one’s experience without judgment has a name; Mindfulness. I wanted to learn how to create this state of being outside of the Ocean, so I began a period of independent study and practice. Surfers train themselves to respond to the everchanging nature of the Ocean. In a similar way, mindfulness practitioners learn to grow the quality of equanimity: the ability to let one’s experience be what it is without struggling against it. Being held under by a wave can be a frightening experience and fighting to surface is instinctual. After multiple wipe outs, I learned that relaxing into the experience is a better way. Consistently practicing present moment awareness with my uncomfortable emotions helped me to embrace them like waves, allowing them to crest and fall. Bringing awareness to my inner environment helped me improve my relationship with my thoughts and emotions. Training myself to tune into the present allowed me to notice conditions for happiness in the here and now.

Training is one of the keys to growing any skill. I found this was just as true when it came to mindfulness as it was with surfing. To progress as a surfer, I committed to paddling out, even on days when the conditions were rough and unfavorable. To become more mindful, I consistently trained my attention through developing a regular meditation practice. As challenges arose, I realized that I could only progress so far on my own.

My mindset could get in the way of enjoying and regularly engaging in surfing and mindfulness. Fear and doubt could keep me from going for bigger waves or surfing near others. I allowed the busyness of life and distractions to disrupt my meditation practice. The mental habits of worry and overthinking often pulled my attention away from the present. The discouragement I felt over these obstacles led to selfcriticism. I was relieved to discover how normal my challenges were when I connected with other people. Seeing myself reflected in them allowed me to give myself permission to be human and move forward despite my doubts.

Like surfing, meditation is often thought of as a solo pursuit. In my experience, finding a supportive community is the most important external factor for growth. Being part of surfing and mindfulness communities helped me step outside of the ego and expand my awareness to include others. Happiness is multiplied when it is shared. The “Party Wave” is a perfect illustration of this, when surfers agree to share a wave versus keeping it to themselves. Seeing the joy I feel in riding a wave mirrored on the faces of my friends is the ultimate present moment experience. Generating the energy of mindfulness in a group helps me feel connected to something bigger than myself. Witnessing how mindfulness meditation helps people generate stillness and happiness inspires me to maintain my own practice.

The smallest community is the community of two. When we teach our clients about mindfulness in our therapy office, we are creating an intimate and safe community environment. Teaching others how to be mindful begins with finding our unique path to mindfulness and following it, so we can embody the practice. Consider what inspires you to live a life of present moment awareness. What is your gateway experience to mindfulness, something that makes you feel fully alive in the present moment?

Written By: Erinn F. Beck, MS, LMHC

Erinn F. Beck, M.S., LMHC is a mindfulness -oriented therapist in West Palm Beach, specializing in working with adolescents. She is part of the group practice, Restoring Hope of the Palm Beaches. Erinn earned her 200-hour Mindfulness Teacher Training certificate with The Way Mindfulness Education. She is passionate about bringing mindfulness training to her community. She especially enjoys helping young people learn how to incorporate mindfulness into their lives.