In "Mindfulness in Plain English," author Henepola Gunaratana discusses how we tend to categorize our experiences into three simple categories: good, bad, or neutral. This inclination to classify perceptions helps us navigate through the complexities of life, but it can also limit our understanding and engagement with thoughts and feelings. By defining our experiences in these rigid categories, we develop automatic responses based on our classifications.

This habitual sorting influences how we interact with the world and can lead to a fixed mindset. Instead of experiencing situations fully, we often respond based on preconceived notions tied to these labels. Mindfulness encourages us to recognize this pattern, allowing us to respond more flexibly and openly to our thoughts and feelings rather than merely reacting according to established categories.