Hi Embodied,
Yes, sometimes it works for me to just let the defiled thought manifest itself. The more I try to go against it, the more it counters me back. No 2 persons have the same mind. To address the issue of how to improve our mindfulness, in my opinion, apart from the guidelines as stated in the Satipatthana, it boils down to the type of defilement one is facing and the seriousness of the defilement and then aptly applying the most suitable strategy to counter the defilement. For example, to counter lust for the opposite sex, one could view him or her as a waste bag. No different from a lavatory waste truck carrying urine and excrement all day long. They just come in a nice packaging that’s all! Then, apply Tilakkhana to further enhance the will power to give up worldly desires. Self-admonishment is another tactic I like to use if cravings are too intense.