Session 4: Paying Attention to the Commentator

Abstract

The main principle introduced in this session is the idea of a “commentator”, the voice of automatic thoughts that contributes to the emotional reactivity in response to cognitive slip-ups. Through the homework of tracking “slips and falls,” participants are invited to reflect on this aspect of their mind that is constantly commenting on their experience. This, in turn, is connected to the concept of mind-wandering; this is a core concept in most discussions of mindfulness practices, and may become even more of an issue as we age. Participants are given the second of two Mindful Yoga series, and the attention hierarchy is also reinforced and connected to increasing experience with the practice. Tracking unpleasant events is also assigned for homework.